Day 1 ­ Refresher on types of triangles and triangle congruencies

Objectives
Review definition of a triangle and the parts of a triangle
Review congruencies and similarities of triangles

1) To introduce the unit have the students discuss everything they already know about triangles. Highlight the key ideas on the chalkboard or overhead. Have the students use GSP to represent these ideas to remind them of the capabilities of GSP when discussing triangles.

2) Ensure in their key ideas they have the correct definition for what a triangle is:

A three-sided polygon reminding them that a polygon is a closed figure in a plane that is made up of segments that intersect only at their endpoints.

3) Have the students identify the parts of the triangles

a) Sides of a Triangle ABC
b) Vertices of a Triangle ABC
c) Angles of a Triangle ABC

4) Remind the students of the different classifications of triangles by their angles

a) Acute triangle-all the angles of the triangle are acute (smaller than 90 degrees)

b) Obtuse triangle-one angle of the triangle is obtuse (larger than 90 degrees)

c) Right triangle-one angle of the triangle is right (exactly 90 degrees)

d) Equiangular triangle-all angles of the triangle are equal

5) Lastly review the definition of congruence and postulates for congruent triangles.

Two triangles are congruent if and only if their corresponding parts are congruent (equal).
If triangle ABC is congruent triangle DEF then:

Segment AB is congruent to Segment DE; Segment BC is congruent to Segment EF, and Segment AC is congruent to Segment DF

Also <A is congruent to <D, <B is congruent to <E, and <C is congruent to <F

Thus,

a) SSS (Side - Side - Side) - If the sides of one triangle are congruent to the sides of a second triangle, then the triangles are congruent.


b) SAS (Side - Included Angle - Side) - If two sides and the INCLUDED angle of one triangle are congruent to two sides and the INCLUDED angle of another triangle, then the triangles are congruent.


c) ASA (Angle - Included Side - Angle) - If two angles and the INCLUDED side of one triangle are congruent to two angles and the INCLUDED side of another triangle, then the triangles are congruent.


d) AAS (Angle - Angle - Side) - If two angles and a NON-INCLUDED side of one triangle are congruent to the corresponding two angles and side of a second triangle, the two triangles are congruent.


Hint - Summary - This is a modification of ASA.... because if you have two corresponding congruent angles, then the third angles are also congruent. Therefore if you have the information for ASA... you can find the third angle and solve by AAS. In the same way if you have the information for AAS... you can find the thrid angle and solve by ASA. (AAS & ASA are to be used when the given information lends itself to one method or the other.)

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