Rhombus Diagonal Properties: Analyzing Triangle Congruence in Four-Part Division

Triangle Congruence with Rhombus Diagonals

Observe the rhombus below:

Determine whether the diagonals of the rhombus form 4 congruent triangles?

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Step-by-step written solution

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1

Understand the problem

Observe the rhombus below:

Determine whether the diagonals of the rhombus form 4 congruent triangles?

2

Step-by-step solution

First, let's mark the vertices of the rhombus with the letters ABCD, then proceed to draw the diagonals AC and BD, and finally mark their intersection point with the letter E:

AAABBBCCCDDDEEE

Now let's examine the following properties:

a. The rhombus is a type of parallelogram, therefore its diagonals intersect each other, meaning:

AE=EC=12ACBE=ED=12BD AE=EC=\frac{1}{2}AC\\ BE=ED=\frac{1}{2}BD\\

b. A property of the rhombus is that its diagonals are perpendicular to each other, meaning:

ACBDAEB=BEC=CED=DEA=90° AC\perp BD\\ \updownarrow\\ \sphericalangle AEB=\sphericalangle BEC=\sphericalangle CED=\sphericalangle DEA=90\degree

c. The definition of a rhombus - a quadrilateral where all sides are equal, meaning:

AB=BC=CD=DA AB=BC=CD=DA

Therefore, from the three facts mentioned in: a-c and using the SAS (Side-Angle-Side) congruence theorem, we can conclude that:

d.
AEBCEBAEDCED \triangle AEB\cong\triangle CEB\cong\triangle AED\cong\triangle CED (where we made sure to properly and accurately match the triangles according to their vertices in correspondence with the appropriate sides and angles).

Indeed, we found that the diagonals of the rhombus create (together with the rhombus's sides - which are equal to each other) four congruent triangles.

Therefore - the correct answer is answer a.

3

Final Answer

Yes

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Properties: Rhombus diagonals bisect each other at right angles
  • Method: Use SAS congruence with equal sides and 90° angles
  • Verify: Check all four triangles have matching sides and angles ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Assuming triangles are congruent without proving it
    Don't just say triangles look the same = wrong conclusion! Visual similarity doesn't guarantee congruence. Always prove using specific congruence theorems like SAS, identifying equal sides and angles systematically.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Look at the following rhombus:

Are the diagonals of the rhombus parallel?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why are the diagonals of a rhombus perpendicular?

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This is a special property of rhombi! Since all four sides are equal, the diagonals must intersect at right angles to maintain symmetry. This creates four 90° 90° angles at the intersection.

How do I know which congruence theorem to use?

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Look at what you have! In a rhombus, you get: equal sides (from definition), right angles (diagonal property), and equal diagonal segments (bisection). This gives you SAS congruence.

Do I need to check all four triangles separately?

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Not necessarily! Once you prove two triangles are congruent using SAS, you can use symmetry to show the others are also congruent. The rhombus has rotational symmetry.

What if the quadrilateral isn't a rhombus?

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Then the triangles might not be congruent! Only rhombi (and squares) have the special property that diagonals create four congruent triangles. Regular parallelograms don't work.

How can I remember the rhombus properties?

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  • All sides equal (definition)
  • Diagonals bisect each other (parallelogram property)
  • Diagonals perpendicular (rhombus special property)

Think: "Equal sides make perpendicular diagonals!"

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