Question

Determine whether Triangle AWT= UYZ. explain your reasoning ​

Answer 1

Answer: The triangles are congruent by the HL theorem

HL = hypotenuse leg

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Explanation:

Through the segment addition postulate, we can say:

WZ = WT+TZ

YT = TZ+ZY

Notice how both WZ and YT have TZ as part of their segments.

Since WZ and YT are the same length, we can then say,

WZ = YT

WT+TZ = TZ+ZY

WT = ZY

I used substitution for the second step.

The last step is where I subtracted TZ from both sides, and they canceled out.

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We have the following info:

1. WT = ZY  (just found)
2. AT = UZ (given)
3. angle AWT = angle UYZ (given)

Normally, the conclusion from here would be "not enough info" because this is a SSA case. Note how the angles are not between the congruent sides. So we wouldn't use SAS.

However, despite us having SSA, it doesn't mean we can't keep going. The reason why is because we have two right triangles. So we can use the HL theorem instead. Statement 1 above refers to the L of HL, while statement 2  is the H.

HL = hypotenuse leg

Again, HL only works for right triangles. It's the only time we can use SSA to prove right triangles are congruent; otherwise, SSA is not a valid congruence theorem.