13 Congruence of triangles

Let’s recall.

Write answers to the following questions referring to the adjacent figure.

(i) Which is the angle opposite to the side DE? D
(ii) Which is the side opposite to Ð E ?
(iii) Which angle is included by side DE and side DF?
(iv) Which side is included by Ð E and Ð F ?
(v) State the angles adjacent to side DE. E F
· The figures which exactly coincide with each other are called congruent
figures.
· The segments of equal lengths are congruent.
· The angles of equal measures are congruent.
Let’s learn.

Congruence of triangles
P
Activity : Observe the adjacent figures. Copy A
D ABC on a tracing paper. Place it on D PQR such Q
that point A coincides with point P, point B with
point Q and point C with point R. You will find C R
that both the triangles coincide exactly with each
other, that is they are congruent. B

In the activity, one way of placing D ABC on D PQR is given. But if we

place point A on point Q, point B on point R and point C on point P, then two
triangles will not coincide with each other. It means, the vertices must be matched
in a specific way. The way of matching the vertices is denoted by
one-to-one correspondence. Point A corresponds to point P is denoted as A « P.
Here, two triangles are congruent in the correspondence A « P, B « Q,
C « R. When the two triangles are congruent in this way, we get six congruences,
namely ÐA @ ÐP, ÐB @ ÐQ, ÐC @ ÐR, seg AB @ seg PQ, seg BC @ seg QR,

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seg CA @ seg RP. Therefore, it is said that, D ABC and D PQR are congruent in
the correspondence ABC « PQR and written as D ABC @ D PQR.
D ABC @ D PQR implies the correspomdence A « P, B « Q, C « R and
the six congruences mentioned above. Therefore, while writing the congruence of
two triangles, we have to take care that the order of vertices observes the one to
one correspondence ascertaining congruence.

Let’s discuss.

D ABC and D PQR are congruent. Their congruent parts are indicated by
the identical marks.
C R Anil, Rehana and Surjit had
written congruence of the triangles
as follows.
A BP Q
Anil ः D ABC @ D QPR Which of the statements is
Rehana ः D BAC @ D PQR correct and which is wrong ?
Surjit ः D ABC @ D PQR Discuss.

Solved Example
Ex. (1) In the adjacent figure, parts of triangles S X
indicated by identical marks are
congruent (i) Identify the one to one
correspondence of vertices in which the
two triangles are congruent and write T U Y Z
the congruence in two ways.
(ii) State with reason, whether the statement, D XYZ @ D STU is right or
wrong.
Solution: By observation, the triangles are congruent in the correspondence
STU « XZY hence
(i) D STU @ D XZY is one way; D UST @ D YXZ is another way.
Write the same congruence in some more different ways.
(ii) If the congruence is written as D XYZ @ D STU, it will mean
side ST @ side XY, which is wrong.
\ statement D XYZ @ D STU is wrong.

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 (The writing D XYZ @ D STU includes some more mistakes. Students
should find them out. Note that, to show that an answer is wrong it is
sufficient to point out one mistake.)

Ex. (2) In the given figure, the identical marks show the congruent parts in the
pair of triangles. State the correspondence between the vertices of the
triangles in which the two triangles are congruent.
Solution ः In D ABD and D ACD, A
side AD is common. Every segment is
congruent to itself. Therefore,

B C
D
Correspondenceः A « A, B « C, D « D. D ABD @ D ACD
Noteः It is a convension to indicate a common side by the symbol ‘∼ ’

Let’s learn.

To show that a pair of triangles is congruent, it is not necessary to show that

all six corresponding parts of the two triangles are congruent. If three specific parts
of one triangle are respectively congruent with the three corresponding parts of the
other, then the remaining three corresponding parts are also congruent with each
other. It means, the specific three parts ascertain the test of congruence.
We have learnt to construct triangles. The three specific parts of a triangle
which define a unique triangle decide a test of congruence. Let us verify this.

(1) Two sides and the included angle : SAS Test

Draw D ABC and D LMN such that two pairs L
of their sides and the angles included by A
M
them are congruent.
Draw D ABC and D LMN, l(AB) = l(LM),
B CN
l(BC) = l(MN), mÐABC = mÐLMN

Copy D ABC on a tracing paper. Place the paper on D LMN in such a way
that point A coincides with point L, side AB overlaps side LM, ÐB overlaps
ÐM and side BC overlaps side MN. You will notice that D ABC @ D LMN.

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(2) Three corresponding sides: SSS test
Draw D PQR and D XYZ such that l(PQ) = l(XY), Q R
X
l(QR) = l(YZ), l(RP) = l(ZX).
Copy D PQR on a tracing paper. Place it on
P Y
D XYZ observing the correspondence P « X, Z
Q « Y, R « Z. You will notice that D PQR @ D XYZ.
D
(3) Two angles and their included side: ASA test X
Draw D XYZ and D DEF such that,
E
l(XZ) = l(DF), Ð X @ ÐD and Ð Z @ ÐF.
Y Z
Copy D XYZ on a tracing paper and place it over F
D DEF. Note that D XYZ @ D DEF in the correspondence X « D, Y « E,
Z « F.

(4) AAS (or SAA) test :

The sum of the measures of angles in a triangle is 180°. Therefore, if two
corresponding pairs of angles in two triangles are congruent, then the remaining
pair of angles is also congruent. Hence, if two angles and a side adjacent to one
of them are congruent with corresponding parts of the other triangle then the
condition for ASA test is fulfilled. So the triangles are congruent.

(5) Hypotenuse side test for right angled triangles : (Hypotenuse-side test)
There is a unique right angled triangle of a A L
given side and hypotenuse. Draw two right
angled triangles such that a side and the
hypotenuse of one is congruent with the
corresponding parts of the other. Verify that they
B C N M
are congruent by the method given above.
Solved Examples
Ex. (1) In the given figures parts of triangles bearing identical marks are congruent.
State the test and the one to one correspondence of vertices by which the
triangles in each pair are congruent.
D
(i) P U (ii)

A C
Q R T S
B
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Solution:(i) By SSS test, in the correspondence PQR « UTS
(ii) By ASA test, in the correspondence DBA « DBC
Ex. (2) In each pair of triangles in the following figures, parts indicated by
indentical marks are congruent. A test of congruence of triangles is given
below each figure. State the additional information which is necessary to
show that the triangles are congruent by the given test. With this additional
information, state the one to one correspondence in which the triangles
will be congruent.
(i) M L F (ii) C B

D E D A
N
Hypotenuse - side test ASA test
Solutionः(i) The given traiangles are right angled. One of the sides of a trangle
is congruent with a side of the other triangle. So the additional
information necessary is hypotenuse LN @ hypotenuse EF. With this
information the triangles will be congruent in the correspondence
LMN « EDF.
(ii) The side CA of the two triangles is common. So the additional necessary
information is Ð DCA @ Ð BAC. With this information, the triangles
will be congruent in the correspondence DCA « BAC.

Practice Set 13.1

1. In each pair of triangles in the following figures, parts bearing identical marks
are congruent. State the test and correspondence of vertices by which triangles
in each pair are congruent .
W K
(i) (ii) (iii) H G
J I
E F
X Z Y L
T
T
(iv) (v)
S

O
M A P M S
N
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 Now I know.

(1) S-A-S test ः If two sides and the included angle of a triangle are congruent
with two corresponding sides and the included angle of the other triangle
then the triangles are congruent with each other.

(2) S-S-S test : If three sides of a triangle are congruent with three corresponding
sides of the other triangle, then the two triangles are congruent.

(3) A-S-A test ः If two angles of a triangle and a side included by them are
congruent with two corresponding angles and the side included by them of
the other triangle, then the triangles are congruent with each other.

(4) A-A-S test : If two angles of a triangle and a side not included by them are
congruent with corresponding angles and a corresponding side not included
by them of the other triangle then the triangles are congruent with each other.

(5) Hypotenuse - side test ः If the hypotenuse and a side of a right angled
triangle are congruent with the hypotenuse and the corresponding side
of the other right angled triangle, then the two triangles are congruent with
each other.

For more information

If two sides and an angle not included by them are congruent with
corresponding parts of the other triangle, will the two triangles be congruent ?

See the adjoining figure. In D ABC and

D ABD, side AB is common, side BC @ side BD D
Ð A is common, but it is not included by those C 3c
3c

sides. That is, three parts of a triangle are m

m

congruent with three corresponding parts of the

41°
other, but the two triangles are not congruent. A B
4.5 cm
Therefore, if two sides and an angle not included by them are congruent
with corresponding parts of the other, then the two triangles are not necessarilly
congruent.

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 Solved Example

Ex. (1) In the adjacent figure, congruent sides of c ABCD are shown by identical
marks. State if there are any pairs of congruent angles in the figure.
A
Solution: In D ABD and D CBD,
side AB @ side CB ..... (given) B D
side DA @ side DC ..... (given)
side BD is common C
\ D ABD @ D CBD ......... (S-S-S test)
\ Ð ABD @ Ð CBD
Ð ADB @ Ð CDB
Ð BAD @ Ð BCD } ....(corresponding angles of congruent triangles)

Practice Set 13.2

1. In each pair of triangles given below, parts shown by identical marks are
congruent. State the test and the one to one correspondence of vertices by which
triangles in each pair are congruent and remaining congruent parts.
(1)M (2) S (3) H
B
P
C
R
T F
S T
Q D
«
2 . In the adjacent figure, seg AD @ seg EC A D
Which additional information is needed to B
show that D ABD and D EBC will be congruent
E C
by A-A-S test ?
ÑÑÑ
Answers
Practice Set 13.1 1. (i) SAS, XWZ ↔ YWZ (ii) Hypotenuse - side test, KJI ↔ LJI
(iii) SSS, HEG ↔ FGE (iv) ASA, SMA ↔ OPT (v) ASA or SAA, MTN ↔ STN
Practice Set 13.2
1. (1) D MST @ D TBM - Hypotenuse - side, side ST @ side MB,
Ð SMT @ Ð BTM, Ð STM @ Ð BMT (2) D PRQ @ D TRS - SAS,
side PQ @ side TS, Ð RPQ @ Ð RTS, Ð PQR @ Ð TSR
(3) D DCH @ D DCF - SAA, Ð DHC @ Ð DFC, side HC @ side FC
2. Ð ADB @ Ð CEB and Ð ABD @ Ð CBE ;
or Ð DAB @ Ð ECB and Ð ABD @ Ð CBE

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