Vardaan
Class 9 Maths • Chapter 7 • NCERT Core

Triangles

Vardaan Learning Institute  |  School-Exam Focused Notes

🧩 1. Congruence of Triangles

Congruent figures: Figures with the exactly same shape and same size.
Symbol: (read as "is congruent to")
CPCT: Corresponding Parts of Congruent Triangles. If $\triangle ABC \cong \triangle PQR$, then their corresponding parts (angles and sides) are equal.
Order Matters! If $\triangle ABC \cong \triangle PQR$, then $A \leftrightarrow P$, $B \leftrightarrow Q$, $C \leftrightarrow R$. It means AB=PQ, BC=QR, AC=PR, $\angle A = \angle P$, etc.
B C A Q R P

📏 2. Criteria for Congruence (The 5 Rules)

1. SAS (Side-Angle-Side)
Axiom: Two triangles are congruent if 2 sides and the included angle of one are equal to the corresponding 2 sides and included angle of the other.
2. ASA (Angle-Side-Angle)
Theorem 7.1: Two triangles are congruent if 2 angles and the included side of one are equal to corresponding 2 angles and included side of the other.
3. AAS (Angle-Angle-Side)
Corollary: Two triangles are congruent if any two pairs of angles and one pair of corresponding sides are equal.
4. SSS (Side-Side-Side)
Theorem 7.4: If three sides of one triangle are equal to three sides of another triangle, then the two triangles are congruent.
5. RHS (Right angle-Hypotenuse-Side)
Theorem 7.5: If in two right-angled triangles, the hypotenuse and one side of one triangle are equal to the hypotenuse and one side of the other, they are congruent.
Warning: AAA & SSA AAA (Angle-Angle-Angle) is NOT a congruence criterion. It only guarantees similar shape, not size.
SSA/ASS is also NOT a congruence criterion (Ambiguous case).

📐 3. Properties of a Triangle (Isosceles Theorems)

📐 Theorem 7.2
Angles opposite to equal sides of an isosceles triangle are equal.
If $AB = AC$, then $\angle B = \angle C$.

Proof Strategy: Draw the bisector of $\angle A$, say AD. In $\triangle ABD$ and $\triangle ACD$:
$AB = AC$ (Given), $\angle BAD = \angle CAD$ (Construction), $AD = AD$ (Common).
$\therefore \triangle ABD \cong \triangle ACD$ (SAS rule). Hence $\angle B = \angle C$ (CPCT).
📐 Theorem 7.3 (Converse)
The sides opposite to equal angles of a triangle are equal.
If $\angle B = \angle C$, then $AB = AC$.
(Triangle is isosceles).
Important Corollary: An equilateral triangle is also equiangular (all angles are equal, i.e., 60°).

✏️ Practice Questions — Triangles (32 Questions)

Section A — 1 Mark / MCQs Easy

Q1. In $\triangle ABC \cong \triangle PQR$, if $\angle A = 50°$ and $\angle B = 60°$, find $\angle R$.
Q2. Which is NOT a criterion for congruence: SAS, ASA, SSA, or SSS?
Q3. In an isosceles $\triangle ABC$ with $AB = AC$, if $\angle A = 80°$, find $\angle B$.
Q4. If $\triangle DEF \cong \triangle BCA$, what part corresponds to side $EF$?
Q5. What does CPCT stand for?
Q6. True/False: If two squares have equal areas, they are congruent.
Q7. To apply RHS, which angle is mandatory?
Q8. In $\triangle ABC$, $AB=AC$. Name the base angles.

Section B — Core Proofs (Short) Medium

Q9. In quadrilateral ACBD, AC = AD and AB bisects $\angle A$. Prove $\triangle ABC \cong \triangle ABD$.
Q10. ABCD is a parallelogram. Draw diagonal AC. Prove $\triangle ABC \cong \triangle CDA$.
Q11. L and M are two parallel lines intersected by another pair of parallel lines P and Q. Prove $\triangle ABC \cong \triangle CDA$.
Q12. Prove that altitude of an isosceles triangle from vertex to base bisects the base using RHS.
Q13. Show that the angles of an equilateral triangle are 60° each.
Q14. Line-segment AB is parallel to another line-segment CD. O is the mid-point of AD. Show $\triangle AOB \cong \triangle DOC$.
Q15. In an isosceles triangle with AB=AC, D and E are points on BC such that BE=CD. Show AD=AE.
Q16. Prove that every point on perpendicular bisector of a line segment is equidistant from its endpoints.

Section C — Medium / Long Proofs Medium

  1. Q17. BE and CF are two equal altitudes of a $\triangle ABC$. Using RHS, prove that $\triangle ABC$ is isosceles.
  2. Q18. ABC is an isosceles triangle with AB=AC. Draw AP $\perp$ BC. Show that $\angle B = \angle C$ (Using RHS congruence).
  3. Q19. ABC and DBC are two isosceles triangles on the same base BC. Show that $\angle ABD = \angle ACD$.
  4. Q20. $\triangle ABC$ is right angled at A, and AB=AC. Find $\angle B$ and $\angle C$.
  5. Q21. In a right triangle ABC, right angled at C, M is mid point of hypotenuse AB. C is joined to M and produced to D such that DM=CM. Point D joined to B. Prove $\triangle AMC \cong \triangle BMD$.
  6. Q22. In the above figure, show that $\angle DBC$ is a right angle.
  7. Q23. Further show $\triangle DBC \cong \triangle ACB$.
  8. Q24. Finally show $CM = \frac{1}{2}AB$. (This is Q7 from Ex 7.1 NCERT, very important).

Section D — Board Level / Complex Problems Hard

  1. Q25. In right triangle ABC, AD is median to hypotenuse BC. Prove that $AD = \frac{1}{2}BC$. (Hint: produce AD to E such that AD=DE, join EC).
  2. Q26. If the bisector of the vertical angle of a triangle bisects the base, prove that the triangle is isosceles.
  3. Q27. If the altitude from one vertex of a triangle bisects the opposite side, then the triangle is isosceles.
  4. Q28. Prove that the medians of an equilateral triangle are equal.
  5. Q29. Two sides AB and BC and median AM of one $\triangle ABC$ are respectively equal to sides PQ and QR and median PN of $\triangle PQR$. Show $\triangle ABM \cong \triangle PQN$.
  6. Q30. AD and BC are equal perpendiculars to a line segment AB. Show that CD bisects AB.
  7. Q31. ABCD is a quadrilateral in which AD = BC and $\angle DAB = \angle CBA$. Prove $\triangle ABD \cong \triangle BAC$.
  8. Q32. P is a point equidistant from two lines $l$ and $m$ intersecting at A. Show that line AP bisects the angle between them. (RHS rule).
✅ Quick Tips for Proofs: Always write: (1) Given, (2) To Prove, (3) Construction (if any), (4) Proof. Use exactly 3 statements for congruence + the rule name (e.g., SAS). Q1: $\angle C=70°$, so $\angle R=70°$ | Q2: SSA | Q3: 50° | Q4: CA | Q20: $\angle B=45°, \angle C=45°$.

📝 Quick Revision

  1. Congruence Criteria: SAS, ASA, AAS, SSS, RHS.
  2. Equating parts: Always match letters! If $\triangle ABC \cong \triangle XYZ \implies$ AB=XY, BC=YZ, $\angle A=\angle X$. CPCT is your best tool.
  3. Isosceles Property: Angles opposite to equal sides are equal, and sides opposite equal angles are equal.
  4. Theorem 7.5 RHS: Only valid for 90° triangles (Hypotenuse + one side).
  5. In proofs involving perpendicular bisectors, use RHS or SAS.