Geometry
Class 1 Notes: Angles, Parallel Lines, and Proofs
Class Topics
In this lesson we thought more critically about some facts you may have learned in previous classes. As a
warmup, we thought about how to justify ordinary day-to-day statements like “fire is hot” and “if I lift
weights, then I will get stronger.” This exercise gave us insight about how to justify our mathematical
work, i.e. how to write proofs! We used this skill to prove some foundational facts about angles and
parallel lines.
Readings
Sections 1.1–2.4
What’s in a Name? - Chapter 1
We discovered how there are certain mathematical facts that cannot be proven. These kinds of statements
are called axioms (or postulates1 ). From the axioms of Geometry we can start building our “house of
wisdom.” The basic idea is as soon as we make some definitions and set some axioms, we can start
proving facts. Then we can use the facts we proved to prove more facts. And so on and so forth. Check
our the Burden of Proof handout in the Handout tab of MyAcademy to learn more about mathematical
proof and AoPS Geometry.
To review these ideas, try the following problems from the Burden of Proof I handout:
• Learn and Practice: Exercises 2.3
• Challenge: Exercises 3.1
Angles and Parallel Lines - Sections 2.1–2.4
We defined the measure around a point to be 360◦ . This is a good choice because it has a lot of divisors.
Using this convention, we proved that the measure of a right angle is 90◦ . Then we used this theorem to
prove that straight angles have measure 180◦ . This rounded out our knowledge enough to prove the
vertical angles theorem: lines AB and DC intersect at point O as shown on the left below. Then
∠DOB = ∠AOC.
D
A b a
c d
O f e
B g h
C
Here’s how we proved it: ∠AOD and ∠DOB are supplementary, so if ∠DOB = x, then ∠AOD = 180◦ − x.
Similarly, ∠AOD and ∠AOC are supplementary, so ∠AOC = 180◦ − (180◦ − x) = x = ∠DOB. Done! The last
foundation result on angles that we studied has to do with how angles are related in configurations
involving parallel lines. Consider the right diagram above. It looks like angles a and e should have equal
measure. Can we prove it? Not exactly - the idea of corresponding angles is actually part of Euclid’s 5th
postulate. This axiom tells us that a = e, c = g, b = f, and d = h. It we combine corresponding angles with
1
This terminology is more antiquated, and isn’t really used in modern math.
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www.aopsacademy.org
Class 1 Notes: Angles, Parallel Lines, and Proofs 2
the vertical angle theorem, we get the alternating angle theorem, which says a = g and c = e. Thus we have
completed building our foundational knowledge about angles.
To review these ideas, try the following problems from the book:
• Learn and Practice: Problems 2.3, 2.4, 2.8, 2.9
• Challenge: Exercises 2.4.2, 2.4.5
Extensions
To practice writing basic proofs and solving problems about angles and parallel lines, we worked on
problems from the Extensions handout, found in the Handouts tab for today’s class.
End of Class Activity
There was no end of class activity today. Instead, we reviewed how to navigate our MyAcademy page. If
you have any questions about the syllabus, homework, and/or how to find information on the website,
please ask your instructor before or after class.
Want more help with these topics?
• Watch Richard Rusczyk prove that the quadratic formula works here
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXy35koBNG8).
• Your AoPS teacher is available for 15 minutes before and after class to answer any additional
questions that you may have.
© 2024 AoPS Incorporated
www.aopsacademy.org
