Congruence Criterion: Side, Angle, Side

We'll study the three main congruence criteria. This is the first one of them:

Side, Angle, Side.

According to this theorem, two triangles are congruent if two of their sides are respectively equal and the angle between them is also equal.
It is important to note that the angle must be between the two equal sides. This criterion cannot be applied if it were a different angle.

image Side, Angle, Side

To demonstrate that two triangles are congruent, we can use one of the following postulates:

  • SAS - Side, Angle, Side
  • ASA - Angle, Side, Angle
  • SSS- Side, Side, Side
  • HL- Hypotenuse, Leg

Definition of Congruent Triangles

Two triangles are congruent if two sides and the angle between them are equal in measure.

This criterion helps us prove that two angles are congruent.
Attention! The angle must be the one that is between the two equal sides. This theorem cannot be applied if it is another angle.


Example 1 (Side, Angle, Side)

Given two triangles ΔABCΔ ABC and ΔDEFΔ DEF and the following data:

AB=DEAB = DE

B=E∠B=∠E

BC=FEBC = FE

Side, Angle, Side

From this, it can be deduced that the triangles ΔABCΔ ABC and ΔDEFΔ DEF are congruent; therefore, we will write:

ΔDEFΔABC Δ DEF ≅ Δ ABC according to the Side, Angle, Side (SAS) congruence criterion


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Example 2 - Congruence (Side, Angle, Side)

On side BD BD , two triangles have been constructed: triangle ΔABDΔ ABD and triangle ΔBCDΔBCD such that:

AD=DCAD = DC

BDA=BDC∢BDA = ∢BDC

Triangle congruence exercise

Prove that BAD=BCD∢BAD = ∢BCD

Proof:

We will use the criterion that we have learned to prove that triangle ΔABDΔ ABD and triangle ΔCBDΔCBD are congruent triangles.

We note that side BD BD is common to both triangles (edge)

It is also shown that: BDA=BDC∢BDA = ∢BDC (angle)

and that: AD=DCAD = DC (edge)

Consequently, we will deduce that ΔCBDΔABDΔ CBD ≅ Δ ABD according to the Side, Angle, Side (SAS) congruence criterion.

It is crucial to pay attention and write the correct order of the vertices.

After seeing that the triangles are congruent, we can conclude that BAD=BCD∢BAD = ∢BCD (Corresponding angles in congruent triangles).


If you're interested in this article, you might also be interested in the following articles:

Congruence Criterion: Angle, Side, Angle

Congruence Criterion: Side, Side, Side

Side, Side and the Angle Opposite the Larger of the Two Sides

Style of Writing a Formal Proof in Geometry

On the Tutorela blog, you'll find a variety of articles about mathematics.


Side-Angle-Side Congruence Exercises

Exercise 1

Given: AM AM is the bisector of BMK ∢\text{BMK}

BMK=100° ∢\text{BMK}=100°

KBM=50° ∢\text{KBM=50\degree}

A=K ∢A=∢K

To which congruence theorem does ΔABMΔBKM ΔABM≅ΔBKM belong?

Given AM is the bisector of ∢BMK

Solution

BM=BH BM=BH Common side

Angle A A is equal to angle K K given

Angle BMK BMK is given as 100° 100°

Angle KBM KBM is given as 50° 50°

Angle HMB HMB is 50° 50° because AM AM is the bisector of BMK BMK

Angle KBM KBM is equal to angle AMB AMB , therefore both are 50° 50°

Angle ABM ABM is equal to angle

KMB KMB

If two angles in a triangle are equal, then the third angle will also be equal, and the triangles will overlap according to the Angle-Side-Angle (ASA) congruence theorem

Answer

ASA ASA (Angle-Side-Angle)


Exercise 2

Prompt

The segments AC AC and BD BD intersect at point K K .

Given: Point K K intersects BD BD .

AK=CK AK=CK

ABAC AB⊥AC

CDAC CD⊥AC

By what criterion of congruence are triangles ΔABKΔCDK ΔABK≅ΔCDK ?

The segments AC and BD intersect at point K

Solution

AK=CK AK=CK

AB AB is perpendicular to AC AC

A line perpendicular creates a right angle of 90o 90^o degrees, therefore, angle A A is equal to:90o 90^o degrees

CD CD is perpendicular to AC AC

A line perpendicular creates a right angle of 90o 90^o degrees, therefore, angle C C is equal to: 90o 90^o degrees

From this it follows that the angles

A=C=90o A=C=90^o

BK=KD BK=KD

Given point K K which intersects BD BD

BD BD

Therefore the triangles are congruent according to the criterionS.A.S S.A.S (Side, Angle, Side)

Answer

Congruent: S.A.S S.A.S (Side, Angle, Side)


Exercise 3

Assignment

In the given figure:

AB=CD AB=CD

BAC=DCA ∢BAC=∢DCA

According to which criterion of congruence are ΔABCΔCDA ΔABC≅ΔCDA ?

Exercise 3 Assignment In the given figure AB equals CD

Solution

Given that

AB=CD AB=CD

Given that the angles

BAC=DCA BAC=DCA

Side AC=AC AC=AC is a common side

The triangles are congruent by the SAS SAS theorem (side, angle, side)

Answer

Congruent by SAS SAS (side, angle, side) criterion


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Exercise 4

Task

Are the triangles in the drawing congruent?

If so, explain according to which criterion.

Are the triangles in the drawing congruent?

Solution

AB=AB=4 AB=AB=4

AC=AC=12 AC=AC=12

Angles ACB=ACB=60º ACB=ACB=60º

The triangles are congruent by the S.A.S S.A.S (side, angle, side) congruence criterion.

Answer

Congruent by S.A.S S.A.S (side, angle, side)


Exercise 5

Prompt

Are the triangles CDE CDE and ABE ABE congruent?

If so, according to which congruence criterion?

Triangles DCE and ABE are congruent

Solution

Given that AE=ED AE=ED

angles BAE=EDC=50 BAE=EDC=50^\circ

angle E=E E=E are vertically opposite angles

The triangles are congruent according to the critterion AAS AAS (angle, angle, side)

Answer

Congruent by AAS AAS (angle, angle, side)


Exercise 6

Assignment

Given the figure:

AD=BC AD=BC

ADBC AD\parallel BC

By which theorem do the triangles ABDBCD \triangle ABD\cong \triangle BCD coincide?

Given the figure AD equals BC

Solution

Given that AD=BC AD=BC

Given that AD AD is parallel to BC BC

Alternate interior angles ADB=CBD \angle ADB=\angle CBD between parallel lines are equal

BD=BD BD=BD common side

Triangles are congruent according to the ASA ASA criterion.

Answer

According to the ASA ASA criterion.


Review Questions

What is a triangle?

In geometry, a triangle is considered a flat figure with three sides, where the joining of each side, called vertices, forms three angles.


What are congruent triangles?

If two triangles have sides and angles of the same measure, then they are congruent triangles.


What criteria can be used to determine if two triangles are congruent?

There are four criteria to determine whether two triangles are congruent or not, which are as follows:

  • SAS - Side, Angle, Side.
  • ASA - Angle, Side, Angle.
  • SSS - Side, Side, Side.
  • SSA - Side, Side, Angle.

What is the Side, Angle, Side criterion?

This criterion tells us that two triangles are congruent when two of their corresponding sides and the angle between them are equal. It should be noted that if the angle analyzed is not the one between these two sides, we cannot use this criterion.


For what types of triangles can we use the congruence criteria?

We can apply the criteria to any type of triangle, whether it's an equilateral triangle, an isosceles triangle, or a scalene triangle.