18.4 Congruence and congruence criteria — Practise
Work through these on your own. Questions marked H are for Higher only.
- What does it mean for two triangles to be congruent?
- Two triangles have side lengths and . Which criterion proves congruence?
- Two sides and the included angle match in two triangles. Name the criterion.
- Two angles and the included side match. Name the criterion.
- Two right-angled triangles have equal hypotenuses and one equal corresponding leg. Name the criterion.
- Is matching three angles enough to prove triangles congruent? Explain.
- Two sides and a non-included angle are given equal. Does this always prove congruence?
- Triangles have sides each. State a congruence criterion.
- A pair of triangles has equal hypotenuse, one equal leg, and each has a right angle. Give a reason they are congruent.
- Two triangles have angles and corresponding sides of lengths and . Congruent?
Answers and concise solutions
1. What does it mean for two triangles to be congruent?
Answer: They have the same shape and the same size.
2. Two triangles have side lengths and . Which criterion proves congruence?
Answer: SSS
3. Two sides and the included angle match in two triangles. Name the criterion.
Answer: SAS
4. Two angles and the included side match. Name the criterion.
Answer: ASA
5. Two right-angled triangles have equal hypotenuses and one equal corresponding leg. Name the criterion.
Answer: RHS
6. Is matching three angles enough to prove triangles congruent? Explain.
Answer: No. AAA fixes shape but not size, so the triangles may be different sizes.
7. Two sides and a non-included angle are given equal. Does this always prove congruence?
Answer: No. SSA is not a general congruence criterion.
8. Triangles have sides each. State a congruence criterion.
Answer: SSS
9. A pair of triangles has equal hypotenuse, one equal leg, and each has a right angle. Give a reason they are congruent.
Answer: RHS
10. Two triangles have angles and corresponding sides of lengths and . Congruent?
Answer: No; corresponding sides differ, so they are similar but not congruent.