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equivalent conditions for triangles (Theorem)

The following theorem holds in Euclidean geometry, hyperbolic geometry, and spherical geometry:

Theorem   Let $\triangle ABC$ be a triangle. Then the following are equivalent:

Note that this statement does not generalize to any polygon with more than three sides in any of the indicated geometries.

Proof. It suffices to show that $\triangle ABC$ is equilateral if and only if it is equiangular.

Sufficiency: Assume that $\triangle ABC$ is equilateral.


\begin{pspicture}(-0.2,-0.2)(5.2,5.2) \pspolygon(0,0)(5,0)(2.5,4.33) \rput[b](2.... ...2.5,0.2) \psline(1.15,2.2)(1.35,2.1) \psline(3.65,2.1)(3.85,2.2) \end{pspicture}

Since $\overline{AB} \cong \overline{AC} \cong \overline{BC}$ , SSS yields that $\triangle ABC \cong \triangle BCA$ . By CPCTC, $\angle A \cong \angle B \cong \angle C$ . Hence, $\triangle ABC$ is equiangular.

Necessity: Assume that $\triangle ABC$ is equiangular.


\begin{pspicture}(-0.2,-0.2)(5.2,5.2) \pspolygon(0,0)(5,0)(2.5,4.33) \rput[b](2.... ...}{60} \psarc(5,0){0.5}{120}{180} \psarc(2.5,4.33){0.5}{240}{300} \end{pspicture}

By the theorem on determining from angles that a triangle is isosceles, we conclude that $\triangle ABC$ is isosceles with legs $\overline{AB} \cong \overline{AC}$ and that $\triangle BCA$ is isosceles with legs $\overline{AC} \cong \overline{BC}$ . Thus, $\overline{AB} \cong \overline{AC} \cong \overline{BC}$ . Hence, $\triangle ABC$ is equilateral. $ \qedsymbol$




"equivalent conditions for triangles" is owned by Wkbj79.
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See Also: triangle, isosceles triangle, equilateral triangle, equiangular triangle, regular triangle


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alternative proof of necessity direction of equivalent conditions for triangles (hyperbolic and spherical) (Proof) by Wkbj79
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Cross-references: legs, isosceles, determining from angles that a triangle is isosceles, necessity, CPCTC, SSS, sufficiency, geometries, sides, polygon, the following are equivalent, triangle, spherical geometry, hyperbolic geometry, Euclidean geometry, theorem
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This is version 7 of equivalent conditions for triangles, born on 2007-06-05, modified 2007-06-06.
Object id is 9536, canonical name is EquivalentConditionsForTriangles.
Accessed 2656 times total.

Classification:
AMS MSC51-00 (Geometry :: General reference works )

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