GRADE 12 NSC MATHEMATICS EXAMINABLE PROOFS

In preparation for the Final Examination learners must ensure that they learn the following proofs:
In Paper 1 (Sum of Arithmetic Series Formula & Sum of the Geometric Series Formula)
In Paper 2 ( Sine Rule, Cosine Rule, Area Rule) & (Six examinable proofs in Euclidean Geometry)

This is a simple 4 page document that contains ALL the proofs…..use it to learn them
Remember this !!! A Geometry Theorem proof will always be tested….and if any other proof comes out that
would mean approximately 10 marks for Theorems….that is approximately 3% of your entire Mathematics
Mark. That could be the difference between passing or failing…or between A and a B symbol. DO NOT
WASTE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET EASY MARKS!!!

PAPER 1 EXAMINABLE PROOFS

Proof of the Sum of an Arithmetic Series Formula

𝑆𝑛 = 𝑎 + (𝑎 + 𝑑) + (𝑎 + 2𝑑) … … … . . +[𝑎 + (𝑛 − 3)𝑑] + [𝑎 + (𝑛 − 2)𝑑] + [𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑] …..(1)

𝑆𝑛 = [𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑] + [𝑎 + (𝑛 − 2)𝑑] + [𝑎 + (𝑛 − 3)𝑑] … … … . . +(𝑎 + 2𝑑) + (𝑎 + 𝑑) + 𝑎 …..(2)

(1)+(2)…2𝑆𝑛 = [2𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑] + [2𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑] + [2𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑] + [2𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑] … … …

2𝑆𝑛 = 𝑛[2𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑]

𝑛
𝑆𝑛 = [2𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑]
2

Proof of the Sum of the Geometric Series Formula

𝑆𝑛 = 𝑎 + 𝑎𝑟 + 𝑎𝑟 2 +. … … … … . … + 𝑎𝑟 (𝑛−3) + 𝑎𝑟 (𝑛−2) + 𝑎𝑟 (𝑛−1) ..………….(1)

𝑟𝑆𝑛 = 𝑎𝑟 + 𝑎𝑟 2 + 𝑎𝑟 3 . … … … . +𝑎𝑟 (𝑛−3) + 𝑎𝑟 (𝑛−2) + 𝑎𝑟 (𝑛−1) + 𝑎𝑟 𝑛 ..…..(2)

(2) – (1) 𝑟𝑆𝑛 − 𝑆𝑛 = 𝑎𝑟 𝑛 − 𝑎

𝑆𝑛 (𝑟 − 1) = 𝑎(𝑟 𝑛 − 1)
𝑎(𝑟 𝑛 −1) 𝑎(1−𝑟 𝑛 )
𝑆𝑛 = or if (1) – (2) 𝑆𝑛 =
(𝑟−1) (1−𝑟)

Mr. M. Govender Harry Gwala District 2020

 PAPER 2 EXAMINABLE PROOFS

The SINE Rule The AREA Rule

𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝐴 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝐶 1
Prove in any ∆ABC that = Prove in any ∆ABC that 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝑏𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝐴
𝑎 𝑐 2

Construction: Draw height (h) from B to base AC.

Construction: Draw height (h) from B to base AC. label the point of intersection D.
label the point of intersection D. Proof: ℎ
Proof: ℎ In ∆ABD: 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝐴 = ∴ ℎ = 𝑐 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝐴
In ∆ABD: 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝐴 = 𝑐 ∴ ℎ = 𝑐 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝐴 𝑐
1
ℎ
In ∆CBD: 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝐶 = 𝑎 ∴ ℎ = 𝑎 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝐶 But Area ∆ABC = 2 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 × ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
1
∴ 𝑐 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝐴 = 𝑎 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝐶 Area ∆ABC = 2 𝑏 × 𝑐 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝐴
𝑐 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝐴 𝑎 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝐶
÷ 𝑎𝑐 ) =
𝑎𝑐 𝑎𝑐

𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝐴 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝐶
=
𝑎 𝑐

The COSINE Rule

̂
Prove in any ∆ABC that 𝑏 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑐 2 − 2𝑎𝑐CosB

Construction: Draw ∆ABC with vertex B in standard position on the cartesian plane.
Construct height h. Hence the co-ordinates of A are (cCosB; cSinB)

Proof: 𝑏2 = (𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2 (distance formula)

𝑏2 = (𝑐𝐶𝑜𝑠𝐵 − 𝑎) + (𝑐𝑆𝑖𝑛𝐵 − 0)2
2

𝑏2 = 𝑐 2 𝐶𝑜𝑠 2 𝐵 − 2𝑎𝑐𝐶𝑜𝑠𝐵 + 𝑎2 + 𝑐 2 𝑆𝑖𝑛2 𝐵

𝑏2 = 𝑐 2 (𝐶𝑜𝑠 2 𝐵 + 𝑆𝑖𝑛2 𝐵) − 2𝑎𝑐𝐶𝑜𝑠𝐵 + 𝑎2 but 𝐶𝑜𝑠 2 𝐵 + 𝑆𝑖𝑛2 𝐵 = 1
𝑏2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑐 2 − 2𝑎𝑐𝐶𝑜𝑠𝐵

Mr. M. Govender Harry Gwala District 2020

(1) The line drawn from the centre of a circle (2) The angle subtended by an arc at the centre of (3) The opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral
perpendicular to a chord bisects the chord a circle is double the size of the angle subtended are supplementary
by the same arc at the circle (on the same side of
Given : Any circle with centre O and chord AB the chord as the centre)
with OM ⊥ AB Given : Given any circle with centre O, passing
Given : Circle with centre O and arc AB through the vertices of cyclic quadrilateral ABCD
R.T.P : AM = MB subtending AÔB at the centre and AĈB at the
R.T.P.: Â + Ĉ = 180 and B̂ + D̂ = 180
circle
Proof : Draw radii OA and OB C
R.T.P : AÔB = 2  AĈB 1 2
Proof : Draw BO and OD
B
Proof : Draw CO and produce
Diagram 1 Diagram 2 O
2
1
A A
C
D
2
O
1 1
O 2
O B
2
1

C
1 2
O
A M B 1 1
C
B
2
2

A
Diagram 3
Ô 2 = 2Â (  at the centre = 2   at circle)
In  OAM and  OBM
Ô1 = 2 Ĉ (  at the centre = 2   at circle)
A

1. OA = OB (radii) B
Ô1 = Ĉ1 + Â (Ext of  = sum of int opp ' s)
2. OM is common Ô1 + Ô 2 = 2 (Â + Ĉ)
but Ĉ1 = Â ( ' s opp = sides OA and OC radii)
3. M̂1 = M̂ 2 = 90 (adjacent supp.) but Ô1 + Ô 2 = 360 (' s around a point)
  OAM   OBM (90HS)  Ô1 = 2Ĉ1
hence  + Ĉ = 180
 AM = MB similarly Ô 2 = 2Ĉ 2
also B̂ + D̂ = 180 (sum of int ' s of quad)

In Diagram 1 & 2 : Ô1 + Ô 2 = 2 (Ĉ1 + Ĉ 2 )

 AÔB = 2  AĈB
In Diagram 3 : Ô 2 − Ô1 = 2 (Ĉ 2 − Ĉ1 )
 AÔB = 2  AĈB

Mr. M. Govender Harry Gwala District 2020

 (4) The angle between the tangent to a circle and (5) The line drawn parallel to one side of a (6) Equiangular triangles are similar.
the chord drawn from the point of contact is triangle divides the other two sides proportionally
equal to the angle in the alternate segment
Given  ABC and DEF with  = D̂ ; B̂ = Ê ; Ĉ = F̂
Given :  ABC, D lies on AB and E lies on AC. R.T.P : AB AC BC
= =
and DE// BC. DE DF EF
Given : Circle with centre O. XBY is a tangent to
AD AE
the circle at B. Chord AB subtends C on the major R.T.P = :
A D

arc of the circle. DB EC E D

h k

R.T. P : AB̂X = Ĉ
A

A
X Y
Proof : Construct radii AO and OB h k
E F

A
D E
C B C

B C
A Proof : Mark off X on AB and Y on AC such
B C That AX = DE and AY = DF. Construct XY
O h

Proof : Join D to C and E to k

In  AXY and DEF
B C
B. Draw altitudes h and k 1. AX = DE (construction)
2. AY = DF (construction)
1 AD  h
Area Δ ADE AD D E
= 2 = (same height) 3. Â = D̂ (given)
Area Δ BDE 1 DB  h DB   AXY  DEF (SAS)
X 2
B
Y
Area Δ ADE
1 AE  k
AE now AX̂Y = Ê but Ê = B̂ (given)
= 2 = (same height)  AX̂Y = B̂
XB̂O = 90 (tangent ⊥ radius) Area Δ CED 1 EC  k EC
2  XY // BC (correponding ' s =)
OB̂A = 90 - AB̂X but Area Δ BDE = Area Δ CED (same base & between // lines) AB AC
BÂO = 90 - AB̂X (' s opp = sides BO & OA radii) Area Δ ADE Area Δ ADE now = (line // one side of )
 = AX AY
AÔB = 180 - (90 - AB̂X + 90 - AB̂X) (sum of ' s in ) Area Δ BDE Area Δ CED but AX = DE and AY = DF (construction)
= 2 AB̂X AD AE AB AC
 =  =
DB EC DE DF
but AÔB = 2Ĉ (  at centre = 2   at circle)
similarly by marking off equal lengths on BA and BC
 2AB̂X = 2Ĉ
relative to bases AD and AE
AB BC
it can be shown that : =
 AB̂X = Ĉ DE EF
AB AC BC
 = =
DE DF EF

Mr. M. Govender Harry Gwala District 2020