CONGRUENT TRIANGLES

HYPOTENUSE LEG
THEOREM
By : Fernandez, Intong, and Siton
Hypotenuse Leg Theorem
Hypotenuse Leg Theorem is used to
prove whether a given set of right
triangles are congruent.
The Hypotenuse Leg (HL) Theorem
states that
If the hypotenuse and one leg of a right
triangle are equal to the hypotenuse
and one leg of another right triangle,
then the two right triangles are
congruent.
The hypotenuse leg theorem states that any two right triangles that
have congruent hypotenuse and a corresponding, congruent leg
are congruent triangles

Example:

State whether the following pair of triangles are congruent. If so, state the
triangle congruence and the postulate that is used.
 The Proof of the Hypotenuse Angle
Theorem

Last month, we have discussed theproof of the Hypotenuse Leg Theorem. It states that if the
hypotenuse and a leg of a right triangle are congruent to the hypotenuse and leg of another triangle,
then the two triangles are congruent. In this post, we are going to discuss a related theorem on right
triangles, the Hypotenuse Angle Theorem or HA Theorem. The HA Theorem states that if the
hypotenuse and an acute angle of a right triangle are congruent to the hypotenuse and an acute angle
of another triangle, then the two triangles are congruent
Theorem

If the hypotenuse and an acute angle of a right triangle are congruent to the hypotenuse and an acute
angle of another triangle, then the two triangles are congruent.

Proof

Let and be right triangles right angled at and . Let and .

It is given that angle and .

Since and are right angles, (Can you see why?).

So, by ASA Congruence, .

Therefore, if the hypotenuse and an acute angle of a right triangle are congruent to the hypotenuse
and an acute angle of another triangle, then the two triangles are congruent.
Example 1
Given:AB = XZ, CB = XY, ACB = ZYX = 90

Prove: ABC XYZ

ABC and XZY are right triangles since they both have a right angle
AB = XZ (hypotenuse) reason: given
AC = ZY (leg) reason: given
ABC XYZ by the hypotenuse leg theorem which states that two right triangles
are congruent if their hypotenuses are congruent and a corresponding leg is
congruent.

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Example 2
The following proof simply shows that it does not matter which of the two (corresponding)
legs in the two right triangles are congruent

ABC and XZY are right triangles since they both have a right angle
AB = XZ (hypotenuse) reason: given
CB = XY (leg) reason: given
ABC XYZ by the hypotenuse leg theorem which states that two right triangles
are congruent if their hypotenuses are congruent and a corresponding leg is
congruent.