Congruence of Triangles
Congruent Triangles
A closed polygon made of three line segments forming three angles is known as a Triangle.
Two triangles are said to be congruent if their sides have the same length and angles have same
measure. Thus, two triangles can be superimposed side to side and angle to angle.
In the above figure, Δ ABC and Δ PQR are congruent triangles. This means,
Vertices: A and P, B and Q, and C and R are the same.
Sides: AB=PQ, QR= BC and AC=PR;
Angles: ∠A = ∠P, ∠B = ∠Q, and ∠C = ∠R.
Congruent triangles are triangles having corresponding sides and angles to be equal. Congruence
is denoted by the symbol “≅”. From the above example, we can write ABC ≅ PQR. They have
the same area and the same perimeter.
Different rules of congruency are as follows.
SSS (Side-Side-Side)
SAS (Side-Angle-Side)
ASA (Angle-Side-Angle)
AAS (Angle-Angle-Side)
RHS (Right angle-Hypotenuse-Side)
SSS (Side-Side-Side)
If all the three sides of one triangle are equivalent to the corresponding three sides of the second
triangle, then the two triangles are said to be congruent by SSS rule.
In the above-given figure, AB= PQ, BC = QR and AC=PR, hence Δ ABC ≅ Δ PQR
Example-
1. LM = NO and LO = MN. Show that ∆ LON ≅ ∆ NML.
Solution:
In ∆LON and ∆NML
LM = NO → given
LO = MN → given
LN = NL → common
Therefore, ∆ LON ≅ ∆ NML, by side-side-side (SSS) congruence condition
SAS (Side-Angle-Side)
If any two sides and the angle included between the sides of one triangle are equivalent to the
corresponding two sides and the angle between the sides of the second triangle, then the two
triangles are said to be congruent by SAS rule
In above given figure, sides AB= PQ, AC=PR and angle between AC and AB equal to angle
between PR and PQ i.e. ∠A = ∠P. Hence, Δ ABC ≅ Δ PQR.
EXAMPLE-
2 .By applying SAS congruence rule, you want to establish
that △PQR≡△FED. It is given that PQ=FE and RP=DE. What additional
information is needed to establish the congruence?
Solution
Given PQR“≅”FED
In SAS congruence rule two sides and one angle are equal to 2 sides &
one included angle of another triangle.
Hence ∠P=∠F
And
∠Q≅∠E SAS means angle between 2 sides.
ASA (Angle-Side- Angle)
If any two angles and the side included between the angles of one triangle are equivalent to the
corresponding two angles and side included between the angles of the second triangle, then the
two triangles are said to be congruent by ASA rule
In above given figure, ∠ B = ∠ Q, ∠ C = ∠ R and sides between ∠B and ∠C , ∠Q and ∠ R are
equal to each other i.e. BC= QR. Hence, Δ ABC ≅ Δ PQR.
Example
3: For Δ ABC, show that AB = AC and Δ ABC is isosceles if the bisector AD of ∠ A is
perpendicular to side BC.
Solution:
In ΔABD and ΔACD,
∠ BAD = ∠ CAD (Given)
AD = AD (Common)
∠ ADB = ∠ ADC = 90° (Given)
Thus, Δ ABD ≅ Δ ACD (ASA rule)
Therefore, AB = AC (CPCT)
Also, this condition satisfies the properties of the isosceles triangles, thus, Δ ABC is an
isosceles triangle.
AAS (Angle-Angle-Side) [Application of ASA]
AAS stands for Angle-Angle-Side. When two angles and a non-included side of a triangle are
equal to the corresponding angles and sides of another triangle, then the triangles are said to be
congruent.
Δ ABC ≅ Δ DEF
EXAMPLE-
4: From the below triangle, we know that ∠Q = ∠R along with right angles on both sides
of the triangle. Can we prove that ∆PQS ≅ ∆PRS?
Solution: Given,
∠Q = ∠R and ∠PSQ = ∠PSR = 90°
Since both the triangles share the same perpendicular line making the length of the line
the same for both triangles. Hence, the sides of both triangles are also equal. According
to the AAS congruence rule, we can say that ∆PQS ≅ ∆PRS
RHS (Right angle- Hypotenuse-Side)
If the hypotenuse and a side of a right- angled triangle is equivalent to the hypotenuse and a side
of the second right- angled triangle, then the two right triangles are said to be congruent by RHS
rule.
In above figure, hypotenuse XZ = RT and side YZ=ST, hence ∆ XYZ ≅ ∆ RST.
EXAMPLE-
5. In the given figure PQ = PR, ∠PSQ=∠PSR=90°. Prove that ΔPSQ ≅
ΔPSR
Solution:
In ΔPSQ and ΔPSR,
PQ = PR (given)
PS = PS (common side)
∠QSP=∠RSP (both right angles)
Hypotenuse and one side of ΔPSQ is congruent to the hypotenuse and the
corresponding side of ΔPSR.
Thus, by RHS rule, ΔPSQ ≅ ΔPSR. Hence proved.
