Question 10
Context: Sidelengths of a triangle are 4 cm, 6 cm, and 8 cm.
Q. Is this information sufficient to replicate the triangle with the same size and shape? If yes, can you do so?
Knowing all three side lengths is enough. We can make an exact copy.
Step 1 — What is Congruence?
We want to make an exact copy. An exact copy means it has the same size. It also means it has the same shape. We call such figures "congruent".
Step 2 — The SSS Rule
We have three side lengths. Let us call them , , and . Their lengths are , , .
The SSS rule tells us something important. SSS stands for Side-Side-Side. If two triangles have all sides equal, they are congruent. This means the given information is enough. It fixes the triangle's size and shape.
Step 3 — Drawing the Triangle
We will use a ruler and a compass.
First, draw a line segment. Let its length be . Let us label its ends A and B.

Next, set the compass opening. Open the compass to . Place the compass needle at point A. Draw an arc above the segment AB.

Then, set the compass opening again. Open the compass to . Place the compass needle at point B. Draw another arc above AB.

The two arcs will cross each other. Let us call this crossing point C. This point C is the third vertex.
Finally, join the points. Draw a line segment from A to C. Draw a line segment from B to C. We have now drawn triangle ABC. Its sides are , , .

Answer
(i) Yes, the information is sufficient. (ii) We can replicate it. Use a ruler and compass. Follow Step 3.
More questions in IT
Context: The symbol on this signboard needs to be recreated on another board.
Q. How do we do it?
Q. Can we take some measurements that would allow us to exactly recreate this figure? If yes, what measurements should we take?
Context: Let us name the corner points of this symbol as shown.
Q. Are the arm lengths AB and BC sufficient to exactly recreate this figure?
Context: Suppose the lengths of the arms of the symbol are AB = 4 cm and BC = 8 cm. Several such symbols can be constructed with the same lengths.
Q. To get the exact replica, would it help to take any other measurement?
Can you draw the symbol if it is known that AB = 4 cm, BC = 8 cm, and ∠ABC = 80°?
If it is known that both symbols have the same arm lengths, can it be concluded that the two symbols are congruent?
What do you think they can do?
Context: Meera says: "The angles of the triangle are not required! With the side lengths we have measured, we can create a triangle congruent to this one."
Q. Do you agree with Meera?
Instead of the lengths being 40 cm, 60 cm, and 80 cm, suppose the sidelengths had been 4 cm, 6 cm, 8 cm (this triangle can fit on our page).
Context: Sidelengths of a triangle are 4 cm, 6 cm, and 8 cm.
Q. Is this information sufficient to replicate the triangle with the same size and shape? If yes, can you do so?
Examine whether ABE and ABF are congruent.
How can these two triangles be superimposed? Which vertices of XYZ and ABC should we overlap? This has to be done so that the equal sides overlap. Figure out how.
Are there other ways of overlapping the vertices so that the triangles fit exactly over each other?
Can you identify a pair of congruent triangles below? Why are they congruent?
Consider and . Since ABCD is a rectangle, we have
If the remaining sides of and have the same length then the SSS condition is satisfied, confirming the congruence of the two triangles. Is this the case?
Verify this by superimposing paper cutouts of the triangles obtained from the rectangle ABCD (Fig. 1.1).
Identify the correct correspondence of vertices and express the congruence between the two triangles.
Suppose the angles are 30°, 70°, and 80°. Can we create an exact copy of the frame with this?
ΔABC and ΔXYZ are two triangles such that
AB = XY = 6 cm, AC = XZ = 5 cm, and ∠A = ∠X = 30°
Are they congruent?
Context: ΔABC and ΔXYZ are two triangles such that AB = XY = 6 cm, AC = XZ = 5 cm, and ∠A = ∠X = 30°.
Q. Construct a triangle having the above measurements.
Compare it with the triangles constructed by your classmates. Are the triangles all congruent? Explain why all such triangles with these measurements are congruent.
ΔABC and ΔXYZ are two triangles such that
AB = XY = 6 cm, AC = XZ = 4 cm, and ∠B = ∠Y = 30°
Are they congruent?
Context: ΔABC and ΔXYZ are two triangles such that AB = XY = 6 cm, AC = XZ = 4 cm, and ∠B = ∠Y = 30°.
Q. Can there exist non-congruent triangles having these measurements? Construct and find out.
and are two triangles with,
Are they congruent?
Context: and are two triangles with .
Q. Can there exist non-congruent triangles having these measurements? Construct and find out.
In the figure, Point O is the midpoint of AD and BC. What can one say about the lengths AB and CD?
The following triangles and are such that , , and . Are the triangles congruent? Give a reason.
ABC and XYZ are right-angled triangles such that BC = YZ = 4 cm, B = Y = 90° and AC = XZ = 5cm. Are they congruent?
Context: ABC and XYZ are right-angled triangles such that BC = YZ = 4 cm, B = Y = 90° and AC = XZ = 5cm.
Q. Can there exist non-congruent triangles having these measurements? Construct and find out.
Consider the downward extension of line below QR. Would the arc from R meet this line downwards as well (as in the case of triangle construction when the sidelengths are given)? If so, would this lead to a triangle whose size and shape are different from PQR, and yet has the given measurements?
ABC is isosceles with AB = AC, and A = 80. What can we say about B and C?
Construct the altitude from A to BC.
Context: In , and .
Q. Can you use this fact to find and ?
Context: All the three angles of an equilateral triangle are equal.
Q. What could be their measures?
Context: In an equilateral triangle, each angle is 60°.
Q. Verify this by construction.
Describe the congruent triangles you see in each picture.