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Congruency

The document introduces the concept of congruency in geometry, explaining how to create congruent figures using a compass and straightedge. It emphasizes the importance of understanding geometric constructions and provides definitions for various types of angles. The document also highlights the historical significance of Euclid in the development of geometry.

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Malik Jacobs
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7 views3 pages

Congruency

The document introduces the concept of congruency in geometry, explaining how to create congruent figures using a compass and straightedge. It emphasizes the importance of understanding geometric constructions and provides definitions for various types of angles. The document also highlights the historical significance of Euclid in the development of geometry.

Uploaded by

Malik Jacobs
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Congruency

So far you have gathered various tools to help you learn about Geometry. Now that you
know what tools you need, let's learn how to put them to good use!

Have you ever used a compass or straightedge before? Look here for some help on what
these tools are and how they work.

You know that line segments are portions of lines with two endpoints, like the one shown
here. The endpoints of this segment are labeled A and B, and the segment is labeled a.

Public Domain

Creating two objects, or figures, that are the same is pretty common in the real world. For
example, an artist may want to make two or more figures the same in one painting. To do so,
she may have to actually construct the figures to ensure they are congruent. So where would
she begin?

What does it mean when two or more figures are congruent? Use any prior knowledge you
may have or just guess whether each set of figures below is congruent or not.

Constructing Congruent Figures


© 2011 Photos.com/Jupiterimages/Thinkstock

How can you create, or construct, congruent figures? How about starting with a segment?
Grab your tools!

Before starting this construction you'll need to know what an arc is. An arc is a part of a
circle. You will use the intersection of arcs to determine points needed to copy a figure.

Understanding Constructions

You saw how to re-create, or duplicate, a line segment by using a straightedge and compass,
but knowing how to do it and understanding why it works are two different things. Once you
know why it works, you can use that information later on.

One of the unique attributes of Euclidean geometry is that most constructions can be made
using just two simple tools: a compass and a straightedge. These tools are very old and were
used by the Ancient Greeks in geometric constructions.

So why can't you use "modern" tools like a protractor and a ruler when you're making
constructions? Well, you can thank a man named Euclid. He is the credited inventor of
Geometry! He wrote a book called "Elements," which covered lots of constructions using
just these two simple tools.

Think about duplicating a segment in another way. Instead of creating an arc to find the
second endpoint, what if you traced all the way around and made a full circle like this?

Angle Constructions

How did you do? These words or terms may be familiar to you, but let's take a look at what
they really mean.
 Acute angles are angles that measure less than 90°.

 Obtuse angles are angles that measure more than 90°, but less than 180°.

 Right angles are angles that measure exactly 90°.

Did you notice the little square at the vertex of the angle? If that's there, then you know the
angle measures 90°.

Straight angles are similar to straight lines. There is no bend, like when you straighten your
arm, so it lies flat as a line and measures exactly 180°.

Finally, although there are right angles, there aren't any wrong ones!

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