#12

PROOF

A proof convinces an audience that a conjecture is true for ALL cases (situations)
that fit the conditions of the conjecture. For example, "If a polygon is a triangle
on a flat surface, then the sum of the measures of the angles is 180." Because we
proved this conjecture in chapter two, it is always true. There are many formats
that may be used to write a proof. This course explores three of them, namely,
paragraph, flow chart, and two-column.

Example
If BD is a perpendicular bisector of AC , prove that ABC isosceles.
Paragraph proof
To prove that ABC is isosceles, show that BA ! BC . We can
do this by showing that the two segments are corresponding
parts of congruent triangles.
Since BD is perpendicular to AC , mBDA = mBDC = 90.

Since BD bisects AC , AD ! CD . With BD ! BD (reflexive property), ADB CDB

by SAS.
Finally, BA ! BC because corresponding parts of congruent triangles are congruent.
Therefore, ABC must be isosceles since two of the three sides are congruent.
Flow chart proof
Given: BD is the perpendicular bisector of AC
"ADB ! "BDC
AD ! CD

BD ! BD

bisector

reflexive

SAS
! !s have ! parts

!ABC is isosceles
Definition of isosceles

GEOMETRY Connections

Prove: ABC is isosceles

Statement

BD bisects

!CBD ! !ABD

BA ! BC

Two-Column Proof
BD is a bisector of AC .
Given:
BD is perpendicular to AC .
Reason
AC

Given

BD ! AC

Given

AD ! CD

Def. of bisector

ADB and BDC

are right angles

Def. of perpendicular

ADB BDC

All right angles are .

BD ! BD

Reflexive property

ABD CBD

S.A.S.

AB ! CB

's have parts

ABC is isosceles

Def. of isosceles

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In each diagram below, are any triangles congruent? If so, prove it. (Note: It is good
practice to try different methods for writing your proofs.)
1.

2.

3.

C
A
A

4.

5.

6.

B
F
A

Complete a proof for each problem below in the style of your choice.
7. Given: TR and MN bisect each other.
Prove: !NTP " !MRP

8. Given: CD bisects !ACB ; !1 " !2 .

Prove: !CDA " !CDB
A

R
1

P
T

9. Given: AB || CD , !B " !D ,
AB ! CD
Prove: !ABF " !CED

10. Given: PG ! SG , TP ! TS
Prove: !TPG " !TSG
P

B
F

11. Given: OE ! MP , OE bisects !MOP 12. Given: AD || BC , DC || BA

Prove: !MOE " !POE
Prove: !ADB " !CBD
M

D
O

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B
Extra Practice

13. Given: AC bisects DE , !A " !C

Prove: !ADB " !CEB
D

14. Given: PQ ! RS , !R " !S

Prove: !PQR " !PQS
R

C
B

E
S

15. Given: !S " !R , PQ bisects

!SQR
Prove: !SPQ " !RPQ
S

16. Given: TU ! GY , KY|| HU ,

KT! TG , HG ! TG
Prove: !K " !H
K

17. Given: MQ || WL , MQ ! WL

Consider the diagram below.

Prove: ML || WQ

18. Is !BCD " !EDC ? Prove it!

L

19. Is AB ! DC ? Prove it!

20. Is AB ! ED ? Prove it!

Answers
1. Yes

!BAD " !BCD

Given

!BDC " !BDA

right !'s are "

BD " BD

2. Yes

!B " ! E
Given

!BCA " !BCD

vertical !s are "

BC " CE

Given

Reflexive
! ABD " ! CBD
AAS

GEOMETRY Connections

! ABC " ! DEC

ASA

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3. Yes

! BCD " ! BCA

AC " CD
Given

4. Yes

right !'s are =

BC " BC

AD ! BC
Given

BA ! CD
CA ! CA

Reflexive

! ABC ! ! CDA

! ABC " ! DBC

SSS

SAS

5.

Not necessarily. Counterexample:

Given

Reflexive

6. Yes

BC ! EF
Given

AC ! FD
Given

! ABC ! ! DEF
HL

7. NP ! MP and TP ! RP by definition of bisector. !NPT " !MPR because vertical angles are equal.
So, !NTP " !MRP by SAS.

8. !ACD " !BCD by definition of angle bisector. CD ! CD by reflexive so !CDA " !CDB by ASA.
9. !A " !C since alternate interior angles of parallel lines congruent so !ABF " !CED by ASA.
10. TG ! TG by reflexive so !TPG " !TSG by SSS.
11. !MEO " !PEO because perpendicular lines form ! right angles !MOE " !POE by angle
bisector and OE ! OE by reflexive. So, !MOE " !POE by ASA .

12. !CDB " !ABD and !ADB " !CBD since parallel lines give congruent alternate interior angles.
DB ! DB by reflexive so !ADB " !CBD by ASA.

13. DB ! EB by definition of bisector. !DBA " !EBC since vertical angles are congruent. So
!ADB " !CEB by AAS.

14. !RQP " !SQP since perpendicular lines form congruent right angles. PQ ! PQ by reflexive so
!PQR " !PQS by AAS.

15. !SQP " !RQP by angle bisector and PQ ! PQ by reflexive, so !SPQ " !RPQ by AAS.
16. !KYT " !HUG because parallel lines form congruent alternate exterior angles.
TY+YU=YU+GU so TY ! GU by subtraction. !T " !G since perpendicular lines form
congruent right angles. So !KTY " !HGU by ASA. Therefore, !K " !H since ! triangles
have congruent parts.
17. !MQL " !WLQ since parallel lines form congruent alternate interior angles. QL ! QL by
reflexive so !MQL " !WLQ by SAS so !WQL " !MLQ since congruent triangles have
congruent parts. So ML || WQ since congruent alternate interior angles are formed by
parallel lines.
18. Yes

DB " CE

!BDC " ! ECD

19. Not necessarily.

DC "DC

20. Not necessarily.

Reflexive
! BCD " ! EDC
SAS

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Extra Practice