Geometry
Class 4 Notes: Isosceles and Equilateral Triangles
Class Topics
This lesson defines isosceles and equilateral triangles. The problems encountered focus primarily on the
fact that when two sides of a triangle are equal, the angles opposite them are equal, and conversely.
Readings
Section 3.6
Isosceles Triangles
A triangle is called isosceles if it has (at least) two equal sides.
A If triangle ABC has AB = AC, then
• BC is called the base.
• AB and AC are called the legs.
• Point A is called the apex.
• ∠A is called the vertex angle.
B C • ∠B and ∠C are called the base angles.
Looking at the picture of triangle ABC above, it may seem intuitively obvious that the base angles of an
isosceles triangle are congruent. Conversely, it may seem obvious that if a triangle has two congruent
angles, then it must be isosceles. Generally, we should not assume something to be true just because it
appears so in a diagram (especially since some diagrams may not be to scale). Let’s prove these two
statements!
First, we assume that triangle ABC has AB = AC, and work towards proving that A
∠B = ∠C. The triangle congruence theorems come in handy when we need to prove
congruent sides or angles, so let’s create two triangles that we can hopefully prove
are congruent. We connect point A with M, the midpoint of line segment BC. Then,
△ABM △ACM by the SSS congruence criterion (since AB = AC, AM = MC given
that M is the midpoint of BC), and the two triangles share AM). By CPCTC, ∠B ∠C,
which is what we wanted to prove! B M C
Try it on your own! Prove that isosceles triangles have congruent base angles using a different auxiliary
construction: for example, you can construct AM as the angle bisector of ∠A. What triangle congruence
theorem applies, if any? Same question for the approach constructing AM perpendicular to BC.
Since a true statement does not guarantee a true converse, we still need to prove the converse: If triangle
ABC has ∠B = ∠C, prove that AB = AC. Try it by constructing AM as the angle bisector of ∠A. Do the other
two constructions also work to prove this statement?
Since both the original statement and its converse are true, we can formulate an ”if and only if”
statement:
In triangle ABC, AB = AC if and only if ∠B = ∠C.
This tool lets us easily compute all the angles of an isosceles triangle if we know one angle and whether
or not it’s a base angle. Consider the problem: ”What is the measure of the base angles of an isosceles
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Class 4 Notes: Isosceles and Equilateral Triangles 2
triangle whose vertex angle measures 32◦ ?” Using the sum of angles in a triangle, we find that the sum of
the base angles is 180◦ − 32◦ = 148◦ , so each of the base angles measures 148◦ /2 = 74◦ .
Try it on your own! What is the measure of the vertex angle of an isosceles triangle with a base angle
measuring 32◦ ?
Problem. Suppose XY = XZ in triangle △XYZ. A is the midpoint of XY and
X
B is the midpoint of XZ. AZ and BY intersect at P. If AP = 2 and PZ = 4,
what is YB? (Drawing not to scale.)
Solution. We don’t know anything about the line segments making up
BY, but we can easily compute AZ = AP + PZ = 6. Your intuition may
suggest that AZ = BY, although they don’t look perfectly equal in the A B
drawing. Let’s try to prove it by looking for potentially-congruent triangles
containing these two line segments. One option is to prove that △XZA P
△XYB. This is indeed true: we have XY = XZ (given), AX = BX as halves
of equal line segments, and ∠X is shared by the two triangles. By SAS
Y Z
Congruence, △XZA △XYB and therefore, BY = AZ = 6 .
Equilateral Triangles
An equilateral triangle is a special case of an isosceles triangle in which all three sides are equal.
You may already know from previous courses that all angles of an equilateral trian-
gle measure 60◦ . Given that this aspect is not part of the definition of an equilateral A
triangle, we need to prove it. We know that the sum of angles in a triangle is 180◦ , so
all we have left to prove is that all three angles of an equilateral triangle are equal.
Since an equilateral triangle is a special kind of isosceles triangle, the statement
proven above can come in handy. If △ABC is equilateral, then AB = AC and so
∠B = ∠C as equal base angles of an isosceles triangle with apex A. Using a similar
approach, we find that ∠A = ∠B. Therefore, ∠A = ∠B = ∠C, which is what we wanted B C
to prove.
Try it on your own! In △ABC, we have that ∠B = ∠C = 60◦ . Prove that △ABC is equilateral. (Hint: which
direction of the ”if and only if” statement about isosceles triangles comes in handy this time?)
Extensions
For further practice with problems involving isosceles and equilateral triangles, we worked on problems
from the Extensions handout, found in the Handouts tab for today’s class.
End of Class Activity
For this portion of the class we played a game called ”Dots in Equilateral Triangle.” Try this game at
home with a friend! It’s played on an equilateral triangle with side length 2. Take turns to place dots
inside or on the border of the triangle such that the distance between every pair of dots is greater than 1.
Any player who cannot place another dot loses.
After you play a few times, you may want to consider the following questions:
• How quickly can the game end?
• What is the largest number of turns until it ends?
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Class 4 Notes: Isosceles and Equilateral Triangles 3
Key Problems
• Problems 3.15 - 3.17.
• Exercise 3.6.6.
• Challenge problems: 3.21.
Homework
Complete the problems on the Homework tab of the course homepage.
Want more help with today’s topics?
• Your AoPS teacher is available for 15 minutes before and after class to answer any additional
questions that you may have!
• Stop by the Office Hours offered by your campus (if available). You can reach out to your campus
leadership team to find out if they are offered and/or how to join.
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