Theorems and Postulates for

Geometry
Geometry Index | Regents Exam Prep Center

This is a partial listing of the more popular theorems, postulates and properties
needed when working with Euclidean proofs. You need to have a thorough understanding of
these items.

Your textbook (and your teacher) may want you to remember

these theorems with slightly different wording.
Be sure to follow the directions from your teacher.
The "I need to know, now!" entries are highlighted in blue.

General:
Reflexive Property A quantity is congruent (equal) to itself. a = a
Symmetric Property If a = b, then b = a.
Transitive Property If a = b and b = c, then a = c.
If equal quantities are added to equal quantities, the sums are
Addition Postulate equal.
If equal quantities are subtracted from equal quantities, the
Subtraction Postulate differences are equal.
If equal quantities are multiplied by equal quantities, the
Multiplication Postulate products are equal. (also Doubles of equal quantities are
equal.)
If equal quantities are divided by equal nonzero quantities, the
Division Postulate quotients are equal. (also Halves of equal quantities are equal.)
Substitution Postulate A quantity may be substituted for its equal in any expression.
The whole is equal to the sum of its parts.
Partition Postulate Also: Betweeness of Points: AB + BC = AC
Angle Addition Postulate: m<ABC + m<CBD = m<ABD
Two points determine a straight line.
Construction
From a given point on (or not on) a line, one and only one
Construction perpendicular can be drawn to the line.
Angles:

All right angles are congruent.

Right Angles
All straight angles are congruent.
Straight Angles
Supplements of the same angle, or congruent angles, are
Congruent Supplements congruent.
Complements of the same angle, or congruent angles, are
Congruent Complements congruent.
If two angles form a linear pair, they are supplementary.
Linear Pair
Vertical angles are congruent.
Vertical Angles
The sum of the interior angles of a triangle is 180º.
Triangle Sum
The measure of an exterior angle of a triangle is equal to the
sum of the measures of the two non-adjacent interior angles.
Exterior Angle The measure of an exterior angle of a triangle is greater than
either non-adjacent interior angle.
Base Angle Theorem If two sides of a triangle are congruent, the angles opposite
(Isosceles Triangle) these sides are congruent.
Base Angle Converse If two angles of a triangle are congruent, the sides opposite
(Isosceles Triangle) these angles are congruent.
Triangles:

Side-Side-Side (SSS) If three sides of one triangle are congruent to three sides of
Congruence another triangle, then the triangles are congruent.
If two sides and the included angle of one triangle are
Side-Angle-Side (SAS)
congruent to the corresponding parts of another triangle, the
Congruence triangles are congruent.
Angle-Side-Angle (ASA) If two angles and the included side of one triangle are
congruent to the corresponding parts of another triangle, the
Congruence triangles are congruent.
Angle-Angle-Side (AAS) If two angles and the non-included side of one triangle are
congruent to the corresponding parts of another triangle, the
Congruence triangles are congruent.
Hypotenuse-Leg (HL) If the hypotenuse and leg of one right triangle are congruent to
Congruence (right the corresponding parts of another right triangle, the two right
triangle) triangles are congruent.
 CPCTC Corresponding parts of congruent triangles are congruent.
Angle-Angle (AA) If two angles of one triangle are congruent to two angles of
Similarity another triangle, the triangles are similar.
If the three sets of corresponding sides of two triangles are in
SSS for Similarity proportion, the triangles are similar.
If an angle of one triangle is congruent to the corresponding
SAS for Similarity angle of another triangle and the lengths of the sides including
these angles are in proportion, the triangles are similar.
If two triangles are similar, the corresponding sides are in
Side Proportionality proportion.
Mid-segment Theorem The segment connecting the midpoints of two sides of a
(also called mid-line) triangle is parallel to the third side and is half as long.
The sum of the lengths of any two sides of a triangle must be
Sum of Two Sides greater than the third side
In a triangle, the longest side is across from the largest angle.
Longest Side In a triangle, the largest angle is across from the longest side.
The altitude to the hypotenuse of a right triangle is the mean
Altitude Rule proportional between the segments into which it divides the
hypotenuse.
Each leg of a right triangle is the mean proportional between
Leg Rule the hypotenuse and the projection of the leg on the
hypotenuse.
Parallels:
If two parallel lines are cut by a transversal, then the pairs of
Corresponding Angles corresponding angles are congruent.
Corresponding Angles If two lines are cut by a transversal and the corresponding
Converse angles are congruent, the lines are parallel.
Alternate Interior Angles If two parallel lines are cut by a transversal, then the alternate
interior angles are congruent.
If two parallel lines are cut by a transversal, then the alternate
Alternate Exterior Angles exterior angles are congruent.
If two parallel lines are cut by a transversal, the interior
Interiors on Same Side angles on the same side of the transversal are supplementary.
Alternate Interior Angles If two lines are cut by a transversal and the alternate interior
Converse angles are congruent, the lines are parallel.
Alternate Exterior Angles If two lines are cut by a transversal and the alternate exterior
Converse angles are congruent, the lines are parallel.
If two lines are cut by a transversal and the interior angles on
Interiors on Same Side
the same side of the transversal are supplementary, the lines
Converse are parallel.
Quadrilaterals:
* If a quadrilateral is a parallelogram, the
opposite
sides are parallel.
About Sides
* If a quadrilateral is a parallelogram, the
opposite
Parallelograms sides are congruent.
* If a quadrilateral is a parallelogram, the
opposite
About
angles are congruent.
Angles
* If a quadrilateral is a parallelogram, the
consecutive angles are supplementary.
* If a quadrilateral is a parallelogram, the
diagonals
About bisect each other.
Diagonals * If a quadrilateral is a parallelogram, the
diagonals
form two congruent triangles.
* If both pairs of opposite sides of a
quadrilateral
are parallel, the quadrilateral is a
parallelogram.
About Sides * If both pairs of opposite sides of a
quadrilateral
Parallelogram Converses are congruent, the quadrilateral is a
parallelogram.
* If both pairs of opposite angles of a
quadrilateral
are congruent, the quadrilateral is a
About
parallelogram.
Angles
* If the consecutive angles of a quadrilateral are
supplementary, the quadrilateral is a
parallelogram.
* If the diagonals of a quadrilateral bisect each
About other, the quadrilateral is a
Diagonals parallelogram.
* If the diagonals of a quadrilateral form two
congruent triangles, the quadrilateral is a
parallelogram.
If one pair of sides of a quadrilateral is BOTH parallel and
Parallelogram congruent, the quadrilateral is a parallelogram.
If a parallelogram has one right angle it is a rectangle
 A parallelogram is a rectangle if and only if its diagonals are
Rectangle congruent.
A rectangle is a parallelogram with four right angles.
A rhombus is a parallelogram with four congruent sides.
If a parallelogram has two consecutive sides congruent, it is a
rhombus.
Rhombus A parallelogram is a rhombus if and only if each diagonal
bisects a pair of opposite angles.
A parallelogram is a rhombus if and only if the diagonals are
perpendicular.
A square is a parallelogram with four congruent sides and four
right angles.
Square
A quadrilateral is a square if and only if it is a rhombus and a
rectangle.
A trapezoid is a quadrilateral with exactly one pair of parallel
Trapezoid sides.
An isosceles trapezoid is a trapezoid with congruent legs.
A trapezoid is isosceles if and only if the base angles are
congruent
Isosceles Trapezoid A trapezoid is isosceles if and only if the diagonals are
congruent
If a trapezoid is isosceles, the opposite angles are
supplementary.
Circles:
In a circle, a radius perpendicular to a chord bisects the chord
and the arc.
In a circle, a radius that bisects a chord is perpendicular to the
chord.
Radius
In a circle, the perpendicular bisector of a chord passes
through the center of the circle.
If a line is tangent to a circle, it is perpendicular to the radius
drawn to the point of tangency.
In a circle, or congruent circles, congruent chords are
equidistant from the center. (and converse)
In a circle, or congruent circles, congruent chords have
Chords congruent arcs. (and converse0
In a circle, parallel chords intercept congruent arcs
In the same circle, or congruent circles, congruent central
angles have congruent chords (and converse)
Tangent segments to a circle from the same external point are
Tangents congruent
Arcs In the same circle, or congruent circles, congruent central
 angles have congruent arcs. (and converse)
An angle inscribed in a semi-circle is a right angle.
In a circle, inscribed angles that intercept the same arc are
congruent.
Angles The opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral are
supplementary
In a circle, or congruent circles, congruent central angles have
congruent arcs.