12/29/23, 11:01 PM Methods of Proving Triangle Congruent - MathBitsNotebook(Geo)

Methods of Proving Triangles

Congruent
MathBitsNotebook.com
Topical Outline | Geometry Outline | MathBits' Teacher Resources

Terms of Use Contact Person: Donna Roberts

When triangles are congruent, one triangle can be moved (through one, or more, rigid motions)
to coincide with the other triangle. All corresponding sides and angles will be congruent.

When triangles are congruent, six facts are always true.

Corresponding sides are congruent. Corresponding angles are congruent.

The good news is that when proving triangles congruent, it is not necessary to prove all six facts
to show congruency. There are certain ordered combinations of these facts that are sufficient to
prove triangles congruent. These combinations guarantee that, given these facts, it will be
possible to draw triangles which will take on only one shape (be unique), thus insuring
congruency.

Methods that Prove Triangles Congruent

The following ordered combinations of the congruent triangle facts

will be sufficient to prove triangles congruent.

SSS SAS
Side-Side-Side Side-Angle-Side

If three sides of a triangle are congruent to If two sides and the included angle of one
three sides of another triangle, the triangles triangle are congruent to the corresponding
are congruent. parts of another triangle, the triangles are
congruent.

https://mathbitsnotebook.com/Geometry/CongruentTriangles/CTtriangleMethods.html 1/4
12/29/23, 11:01 PM Methods of Proving Triangle Congruent - MathBitsNotebook(Geo)

ASA AAS (or SAA)

Angle-Side-Angle Angle-Angle-Side

If two angles and the included side of one If two angles and the non-included side of
triangle are congruent to the corresponding one triangle are congruent to the
parts of another triangle, the triangles are corresponding parts of another triangle, the
congruent. triangles are congruent.
This is an extension of ASA. In ASA, since you know two sets
of angles are congruent, you automatically know the third sets
are also congruent since there are 180º in each triangle.

The "included angle" in SAS is the angle

HL formed by the two sides of the triangle being
Hypotenuse-Leg used.
The "included side" in ASA is the side between
the angles being used. It is the side where the
If the hypotenuse and leg of one right rays of the angles overlap.
triangle are congruent to the corresponding The "non-included" side in AAS can be either of
parts of another right triangle, the right the two sides that are not directly between the
triangles are congruent. two angles being used.

Once triangles are proven congruent, the corresponding leftover "parts" that were not used in
SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS and HL, are also congruent.
CPCTC
Corresponding Parts of Congruent Triangles are Congruent.

Methods that DO NOT Prove Triangles Congruent

The following ordered combinations of the congruent triangle facts will NOT be sufficient to
prove triangles congruent. Let's see why these combinations DO NOT work!

AAA This method will NOT always prove triangles

Angle-Angle-Angle congruent!
The AAA combination will show that the triangles are
the same SHAPE (similar), but will NOT show that
the triangles are the same size.

Example: Consider these two equilateral triangles that

satisfy the AAA combination. They are the same
shape, but are not the same size. Thus, they are not
congruent. (They are similar.)
Yes, it is possible that the sides "could" be the same length and the triangles would be congruent, but
this would be the exception, not the rule.

SSA or ASS This method will NOT always prove triangles

Side-Side-Angle congruent!

https://mathbitsnotebook.com/Geometry/CongruentTriangles/CTtriangleMethods.html 2/4
12/29/23, 11:01 PM Methods of Proving Triangle Congruent - MathBitsNotebook(Geo)

The SSA (or ASS) combination deals with two sides and the non-
included angle. This combination is humorously referred to as the
"Donkey Theorem". SSA (or ASS) is NOT a universal method to prove
triangles congruent since it cannot guarantee that the shapes of the
triangles formed will always be the same.
Let's look at the problems associated with SSA:
When using SSA (or ASS), the lengths of the sides being used, and their position in
relation to the angle, will determine if congruent triangles will always be created. Let's see
which special conditions will create congruent triangles, and which ones will not.
If the side which lies on one ray of the
angle is shorter than the other side (not on
the ray of the angle), you are safe and the
two triangles will be of the same shape and
size (congruent). If DE is shorter than EF,
only one triangle may be drawn.

If the side which lies on one ray of the

angle is longer than the other side, and the
other side is the minimum distance needed
to create a triangle, the two triangles will be
congruent. The minimum (shortest) distance
from point E to the ray from D through F, is
the perpendicular distance. Using the right
angles, we can establish AAS making the
triangles congruent. Or using the
Pythagorean Theorem, we can find the
missing side, and then use SSS, SAS, or
ASA to make the triangles congruent.

Note: This specific case of SSA is the basis for the acceptable method HL (Hypotenuse
Leg) which applies only in right triangles.

If the side which lies on one ray of the

angle is longer than the other side, and the
other side is greater than the minimum
distance needed to create a triangle, the two
triangles will not necessarily be congruent.

If EF is greater than EG, the diagram below

shows how it is possible for to "swing"
to either side of point G, creating two non-
congruent triangles using SSA.

https://mathbitsnotebook.com/Geometry/CongruentTriangles/CTtriangleMethods.html 3/4
12/29/23, 11:01 PM Methods of Proving Triangle Congruent - MathBitsNotebook(Geo)

The "swinging" nature of , creating possibly two different triangles, is the problem
with this method. Since this situation is open to two interpretations, it is referred to as the
Ambiguous Case. (This is a reference we will be examining further in trigonometry.)

If the side which lies on one ray of the

angle is longer than the other side, and the
other side is less than the minimum distance
needed to create a triangle, no triangle can
be drawn. Since no triangles are possible, no
congruent triangles are possible.

No Congruent Triangles

Since the SSA (or ASS) method allows for the possibility of creating triangles of various
shapes (or even no triangles at all), this method is not an universal method for proving
triangles congruent.

NOTE: The re-posting of materials (in part or whole) from this site to the Internet is copyright violation
and is not considered "fair use" for educators. Please read the "Terms of Use".

Topical Outline | Geometry Outline | MathBitsNotebook.com | MathBits' Teacher Resources

Terms of Use Contact Person: Donna Roberts

Copyright © 2012-2023 MathBitsNotebook.com. All Rights Reserved.

https://mathbitsnotebook.com/Geometry/CongruentTriangles/CTtriangleMethods.html 4/4