Triangle Congruence Problem: Proving DCE ≅ ABE with 50° Angles

Triangle Congruence with Vertical Angle Relationships

Determine whether the triangles DCE and ABE congruent?

If so, according to which congruence theorem?

AAABBBCCCDDDEEE50º50º

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Determine whether the triangles DCE and ABE congruent?

If so, according to which congruence theorem?

AAABBBCCCDDDEEE50º50º

2

Step-by-step solution

Congruent triangles are triangles that are identical in size, meaning that if we place one on top of the other, they will match exactly.

In order to prove that a pair of triangles are congruent, we need to prove that they satisfy one of these three conditions:

  1. SSS - Three sides of both triangles are equal in length.

  2. SAS - Two sides are equal between the two triangles, and the angle between them is equal.

  3. ASA - Two angles in both triangles are equal, and the side between them is equal.

If we take an initial look at the drawing, we can already observe that there is one equal side between the two triangles, as they are both marked in blue,

We don't have information regarding the other sides, thus we can rule out the first two conditions,

And now we'll focus on the last condition - angle, side, angle.

We can observe that angle D equals angle A, both equal to 50 degrees,

Let's proceed to the angles E.

At first glance, one might think that there's no way to know if these angles are equal, however if we look at how the triangles are positioned,
We can see that these angles are actually corresponding angles, and corresponding angles are of course equal.

Therefore - if the angle, side, and second angle are equal, we can prove that the triangles are equal using the ASA condition

3

Final Answer

Congruent according to A.S.A

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • ASA Theorem: Two angles plus included side prove triangle congruence
  • Vertical Angles: Angles CEA and DEB are equal since they're vertically opposite
  • Check: Verify angle D = angle A = 50°, side DE = side AE, angle E = angle E ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Missing the vertical angle relationship at point E
    Don't assume angles CEA and DEB are different just because they look separate! These are vertical angles formed by intersecting lines, so they're automatically equal. Always look for vertical angle pairs when lines cross - they're your key to finding hidden equal angles.

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 can I tell if triangles DCE and ABE share the same side?

+

Look carefully at the diagram! Both triangles share the side AE (or DE depending on how you read it). When triangles overlap like this, they often share a common side or vertex.

What are vertical angles and why are they equal?

+

Vertical angles are opposite angles formed when two lines intersect. They're always equal because they're supplementary to the same angles. In this problem, angles at point E are vertical angles.

Why can't I use SAS or SSS for these triangles?

+

We don't have enough information about the side lengths. We only know about the angles (50° and the vertical angles) and one shared side. ASA is perfect when you have angle-side-angle information!

How do I identify which angles correspond to each other?

+

Match angles by their position in each triangle: angle D corresponds to angle A (both 50°), the angles at E are vertical angles, and the shared side connects the triangles.

What if the 50° angles weren't marked in the diagram?

+

Without the 50° markings, you couldn't prove congruence! Those angle measurements are crucial evidence. Always look for given angle measures, parallel line markings, or other geometric clues in the diagram.

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Congruent Triangles questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime

More Questions

Click on any question to see the complete solution with step-by-step explanations