Triangle Congruence in Isosceles Triangle: Proving ADC ≅ ADB

Triangle Congruence with Isosceles Properties

Given: ΔABC isosceles

and the line AD cuts the side BC.

Are ΔADC and ΔADB congruent?

And if so, according to which congruence theorem?

AAABBBCCCDDD

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Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Given: ΔABC isosceles

and the line AD cuts the side BC.

Are ΔADC and ΔADB congruent?

And if so, according to which congruence theorem?

AAABBBCCCDDD

2

Step-by-step solution

Since we know that the triangle is isosceles, we can establish that AC=AB and that

AD=AD since it is a common side to the triangles ADC and ADB

Furthermore given that the line AD intersects side BC, we can also establish that BD=DC

Therefore, the triangles are congruent according to the SSS (side, side, side) theorem

3

Final Answer

Congruent by L.L.L.

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Isosceles Rule: Equal base angles mean equal sides opposite them
  • Technique: Use perpendicular from vertex to base creates equal segments
  • Check: Verify all three corresponding sides are equal for SSS ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Assuming AD bisects BC without proving it
    Don't assume AD creates equal segments BD = DC just because ABC is isosceles! This assumption leads to wrong congruence claims. Always prove that AD is perpendicular to BC or that D is the midpoint before concluding the triangles are congruent.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Look at the triangles in the diagram.

Which of the statements is true?

727272727272131313222131313222AAABBBCCCDDDEEEFFF

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

How do I know that BD equals DC in this problem?

+

You need additional information to conclude BD = DC! The diagram alone doesn't guarantee this. If AD is the perpendicular bisector or if D is the midpoint of BC, then BD = DC.

Why can't I use SAS theorem here?

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For SAS, you need two sides and the included angle. While we have AD = AD (common side) and potentially AC = AB (isosceles), we need the angles ∠CAD and ∠BAD to be equal, which isn't automatically true.

What makes this different from a regular triangle congruence problem?

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The isosceles property gives us AC = AB automatically, but we still need to establish the third pair of equal sides (BD = DC) through additional given information or proof.

Can triangles ADC and ADB ever NOT be congruent?

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Yes! If AD is just any line cutting BC (not perpendicular or creating a midpoint), then BD ≠ DC and the triangles won't be congruent by SSS. The position of point D matters!

How do I identify which congruence theorem to use?

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  • SSS: All three pairs of sides are equal
  • SAS: Two sides and included angle are equal
  • ASA/AAS: Two angles and one side are equal

Count what you know and match the pattern!

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