SSS with a Shared Side
Part of the Congruence & Proof section of Coddy's Geometry journey. Lesson 14 of 63.
Put the last two lessons together. In the kite below, the ticks give two pairs of sides, and the diagonal is a side of both triangles. Three pairs: SSS.
| Statement | Reason |
|---|---|
| 1. KL = KN | Given |
| 2. ML = MN | Given |
| 3. KM = KM | Reflexive property |
| 4. △KLM ≅ △KNM | SSS, using lines 1, 2 and 3 |
Check the letter order before you write the congruence. K matches K and M matches M, because the shared side is KM in both. That leaves L to match N, and indeed KL = KN and ML = MN.
Challenge
In quadrilateral ABCD the ticks show AB = CD and BC = DA, and the diagonal AC is drawn. Prove that △ABC ≅ △CDA, then press Check.
Try it yourself
Write the proof
This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
All lessons in Congruence & Proof
1What a Proof Is
Given and ProveStatements and ReasonsChaining Equal PartsYour First Full ProofRecap: A Chain of Reasons2Congruent Triangles
Same Size, Same ShapeMatching SidesMatching AnglesWhat Congruence GivesRecap: Matching Parts8Proofs with Vertical Angles
Vertical Angles in ProofsThe BowtieBowtie with ASALinear Pairs in ProofsRecap: Vertical Angles