Year 7-10 Geometry Reasoning

Adjacent next to
Complementary adds to 90°
Supplementary adds to 180°
Complementary angles Two angles that add to 90°
Supplementary angles Two angles that add to 180°
Complement Is the amount you must add to make 90°
Supplement Is the amount you must add to make 180°

You may not abbreviate ANY words.

Eg. You must write “quadrilateral” rather than “quad”.

Eg. You must write “alternate” rather than “alt”.

The following symbols may be used: (No other symbols will be accepted)

Symbol Description
= is equal to
∠ angle
∠’s or ∠𝑠 angles
Δ triangle
|| is parallel to
⊥ is perpendicular to
∴ therefore
∵ because

All deductive reasoning starts from a fact. Any theorem that is being used should be explicitly stated, whether it
is in the algebraic statement or the reason.

This is especially important if the theorem involves a sum or product.

e.g.
𝑥 + 20° + 50° = 180° (∠sum of Δ𝐴𝐵𝐶)
NOT
x = 180° – 20° – 50° (∠sum of Δ𝐴𝐵𝐶)
Angle Theorems (if angles are labelled in the diagram, they MUST be named in the reason)

Angles in a right angles add to 90° 𝑒 + 30° + 20° = 90° (angles in a right angle add to 90°)
𝑒 = 40°

Other accepted reasons:

(right angle)

Angles on a straight line add to 180° 𝑐 + 110° + 50° = 180° (∠′𝑠 on a straight line)
𝑥 = 20°

Other accepted reasons:

(straight angle)
(∠sum of a straight line)
Vertically opposite angles are equal 𝑎 = 130° (vertically opposite ∠s)

Angles at a point add to 360° 𝑥 + 140° + 120° = 360° (∠’s at a point)

𝑥 = 100°

Other accepted reasons:

(revolution)
(∠’s around a point)
Parallel Line Theorems (if parallel lines are labelled in the diagram, they MUST be named in the reason)

Alternate angles are equal on parallel lines 𝑐 = 80° (alternate ∠’s, AB//CD)

Note: the following statement is not sufficient

𝑐 = 80° (alternate angle's on parallel lines)

Since the parallel lines were labelled in the diagram but not in
the reason.

Alternate angles are equal on parallel lines 𝑐 = 80° (alternate ∠’s on // lines)

𝑐 = 80° (alternate ∠'s on parallel lines)

𝑐 = 80° (alternate angle's on parallel lines)

Corresponding angles are equal on parallel 𝑑 = 105° (corresponding ∠'s on // lines)

lines

Co-interior angles are supplementary on 𝑎 + 60 = 180 (co-interior ∠'s on // lines)

parallel lines 𝑎 = 180 − 60
𝑎 = 120

Note: the following statement is not sufficient

𝑎 = 180 − 60 (co-interior ∠'s on // lines)
𝑎 = 120
Since the equation was not written as a sum.
Triangle Theorems (if triangles are labelled in the diagram, they MUST be named in the reason)

The angle sum of a triangle is 180° 𝑎 + 75° + 65° = 180° (∠ sum of Δ)

𝑎 = 40°

The angle sum of a triangle is 180° 𝑥 + 50 + 45 = 180 (∠ sum of Δ𝐴𝐵𝐶)

𝑥 = 85

OR

In Δ𝐴𝐵𝐶
𝑥 + 50 + 45 = 180 (∠ sum of Δ)
𝑥 = 85
Since there is more than one ∆, we need to specify which one.
The exterior angle of any triangle is equal 𝑐 + 85° = 133°
to the sum of the two opposite interior (exterior ∠ of a Δ = sum of the two opposite interior ∠'s)
angles.
Note: the following statement is not sufficient
𝑐 + 85° = 133°
(exterior ∠ of a Δ = sum of the two interior ∠'s)
Since it must be the two opposite angles.

The angles opposite the equal sides in a 𝑏 = 33° (equal ∠'s opposite equal sides in a triangle)
triangle are equal
Other accepted reasons:
(base angles of an isosceles triangle are equal)
(equal ∠𝑠 opposite equal sides in ∆)

The sides opposite the equal angles in a 𝑥 = 5 (sides opposite equal ∠'s in a triangle)
triangle are equal

Other accepted reasons:

(equal sides opposite equal angles in an Δ)

If the three sides of a triangle are equal, 𝑎 = 60 (∠'s of an equilateral Δ)

each angle is 60 °

If the three angles of a triangle are equal, 𝑦 = 20 (sides of an equilateral Δ)

each side is equal 𝑧 = 20 (sides of an equilateral Δ)

Other accepted reasons:

(equal sides opposite equal ∠𝑠 in ∆)
Quadrilateral Theorems (if quadrilaterals are labelled in the diagram, they MUST be named in the reason)

Angle sum of a Quadrilateral is 360° 𝑥 + 87° + 95° + 125° = 360° (∠ sum of quadrilateral)
𝑥 = 53°

Angle sum of a Quadrilateral is 360° 𝑥 + 87° + 95° + 125° = 360° (∠ sum of quadrilateral ABCD)
𝑥 = 53°

Note: the following statement is not sufficient

𝑥 + 87° + 95° + 125° = 360° (∠ sum of quadrilateral)
𝑥 = 53°
There is more than one quadrilateral, we need to specify which
one