Opposite Angle Congruence

Pronunciation: /ˈɒp.ə.sɪt ˈæŋ.gəl kən'gru.əns/ Explain

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Manipulative 1 - Opposite Angle Congruence Created with GeoGebra.

Opposite angle congruence is a property of triangles.[2] If two angles of a triangle are equal, the sides opposite the equal angles are also equal. This property is sometimes called base angle congruence. In his book Elements, book 1 proposition 6, Euclid described this property.

Proof

StepDiagramDescriptionJustification
1

Let ΔABC be a triangle having the angle ∠ABC equal to the angle ∠ACB. The claim is that side AB is equal to side BC.

Initial conditions and statement of claim.

2

If side AB is not equal to side AC, then one of them must be larger.

Euclid, Elements, Book 1, Common Notions, Translated and annotated by D. Joyce.

3

Let segment AC be the larger. Put point D on AC such that DC is equal to AB.

Euclid. Elements Book 1 Proposition 3. Translated by D. Joyce. A line segment can be drawn in a larger line segment the size of a smaller line segment.
4

Draw a line segment between points D and B.

Euclid. Elements, Book 1 Postulate 1, translated by D. Joyce: A line can be drawn using any two points.

5

Since DB = AC, BC is in common and ∠ABC = ∠ACB by definition, triangles ΔABC = ΔDCB.

Euclid. Elements Book 1 Proposition 4: SAS Congruence.

6

But, if ΔABC = ΔDCA, then line segment AC = DB which contradicts the assumption that AC > DB. So AC can not be greater than AB, and can not be less than AB, so it must be equal to AB.

Euclid. Elements, Book 1, Common Notions 5, translated by D. Joyce.

References

  1. McAdams, David E.. All Math Words Dictionary, Opposite Angle Congruence Theorem. 2nd Classroom edition 20150108-4799968. pg 130. Life is a Story Problem LLC. January 8, 2015. Buy the book
  2. Euclid. Elements. Book 1, proposition 6. Translated by Joyce, D. Clark University. Last Accessed 9/5/2018. https://mathcs.clarku.edu/~djoyce/elements/bookI/propI6.html. Buy the book

More Information

  • Euclid of Alexandria. Elements. Clark University. 9/6/2018. https://mathcs.clarku.edu/~djoyce/elements/elements.html.

Cite this article as:

McAdams, David E. Opposite Angle Congruence. 3/26/2019. All Math Words Encyclopedia. Life is a Story Problem LLC. http://www.allmathwords.org/en/o/oppositeanglecongruence.html.

Image Credits

Revision History

3/26/2019: Corrected proof to use the proper points. (McAdams, David E.)
12/21/2018: Reviewed and corrected IPA pronunication. (McAdams, David E.)
9/5/2018: Removed broken links, updated license, implemented new Geogebra protocol, implemented new markup. (McAdams, David E.)
8/7/2018: Changed vocabulary links to WORDLINK format. (McAdams, David E.)
12/21/2009: Added "References". (McAdams, David E.)
11/13/2008: Changed manipulatives to GeoGebra. Expanded article (McAdams, David E.)
9/10/2007: Initial version. (McAdams, David E.)

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