Geometry Abbreviations at SBHS

1.

Symbols can be used in the abbreviation if they read correctly.

e.g. or for angle but NOT || for parallel e.g. AB and CD are || lines is incorrect.

2.

Conventional abbreviations are allowed.

e.g. ext.
int.
opp.
quad.
Pythag.
However abbreviations of the type (i) v.o.a. for vertically opposite angles
(ii) ||-gram for parallelogram
are NOT acceptable.

3.

If parallel lines are labelled in the diagram, use their names in the reason.
e.g.
co-interior angles, AB || PQ
NOT co-interior angles in parallel lines

4.

Begin algebraic statements with a sum or a product if the theorem

refers to a sum or a product.
e.g.
x + 110 = 180
(angle sum of triangle)
NOT x = 180 110
(angle sum of triangle)

5.

Theorems can be abbreviated by using the distinctive words found only

within their enunciation, i.e. the particular words used in their statement
e.g. The square of a tangent to a circle from an external point is equal to the product of the
intercepts of any secant from the point.
This can be abbreviated as:square of the tangent OR
intersecting tangent and secant OR
tangent and secant

Theorem

Abbreviation

1.

Angles on a straight line are supplementary.

2.

Vertically opposite angles are equal.

vertically opposite angles

3.
4.

The sum of angles at a point is 360.

When lines are parallel:
alternate angles are equal;

angles at a point
alternate angles in parallel lines

corresponding angles are equal;

corresponding angles in parallel lines

co-interior angles are supplementary;

co-interior angles in parallel lines

and conversely.

alternate angles are equal OR

corresponding angles are equal OR
co-interior angles are supplementary.

5.

If two lines are parallel to a third line, then

they are parallel to one another.

6.

The sum of the interior angles of a triangle

is 180.
The exterior angle of a triangle is equal to
the sum of the two interior opposite angles.
If three sides of a triangle are equal then
each interior angle is 60.

7.
8.

straight line OR straight angle

parallel to third line

angle sum of triangle
exterior angle of triangle
equilateral triangle

Theorem
9.
Each angle of an equilateral triangle is
equal to 60.
10.

11.

12.

Abbreviation
equilateral triangle

If two sides of a triangle are equal, then the

angles opposite the equal sides are equal.

angles opposite equal sides in a triangle

Conversely, if two angles of a triangle are

equal, then the sides opposite those angles
are equal.

sides opposite equal angles in a triangle

In any right angled triangle, the square on

the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the
squares on the other two sides.

Pythagoras Theorem

If the square on one side of a triangle

equals the sum of the squares on the other
two sides, then the angle between these
other two sides is a right angle.
The sum of the interior angles of any
quadrilateral is 360.

The sum of the exterior angles of any

convex polygon is 360.
14.
Congruence of triangles:
a) If three sides of one triangle are
respectively equal to three sides of another
triangle, then the two triangles are
congruent.
13.

converse of Pythagoras Theorem

angle sum of quadrilateral

exterior angle sum of polygon

SSS

b) If two sides and the included angle of one

triangle are respectively equal to two sides

and the included angle of another triangle,
then the two triangles are congruent.

SAS

c) If two angles and one side of one triangle

are respectively equal to two angles and the

AAS
matching side of another triangle, then the
two triangles are congruent.
d) If the hypotenuse and a second side of one

right-angled triangle are respectively equal

to the hypotenuse and a second side of
another right-angled triangle, then the two
triangles are congruent.
15.

RHS

The opposite angles of a parallelogram are

equal.

opposite angles of parallelogram

The opposite sides of a parallelogram are

equal.

opposite sides of parallelogram

The diagonals of a parallelogram bisect

each other.

diagonals of parallelogram

Theorem

Abbreviation

The diagonals of a rhombus bisect each

other at right angles.

diagonals of rhombus

The diagonals of a rhombus bisect the

vertex angles through which they pass.

diagonals of rhombus bisect angles

17.

The diagonals of a rectangle are equal.

diagonals of rectangle

18.

If both pairs of opposite angles of a

quadrilateral are equal, then it is a
parallelogram.
If both pairs of opposite sides of a
quadrilateral are equal, then it is a
parallelogram.

16.

2 pairs opposite angles equal

2 pairs opposite sides equal

If one pair of opposite sides of a

one pair of opposite sides both equal and
quadrilateral is both equal and parallel, then
parallel
it is a parallelogram.
If all sides of a quadrilateral are equal, then
it is a rhombus.
20.
Similarity of triangles:
a) If the three sides of one triangle are
proportional to the three sides of another
triangle, then the two triangles are similar.
19.

all sides equal

3 pairs of corresponding sides in

proportion

b) If two sides of one triangle are proportional

to two sides of another triangle, and the

included angles are equal, then the two
triangles are similar.

2 pairs of corresponding sides in

proportion and included angles equal

c) If two angles of one triangle are

respectively equal to two angles of another

triangle, then the two triangles are similar.

equiangular

d) If the hypotenuse and a second side of a

right-angled triangle are proportional to the

hypotenuse and a second side of another
right-angled triangle, then the two triangles
are similar.
21.

22.

The interval joining the midpoints of two

sides of a triangle is parallel to the third side
and half its length.
Conversely, the line through the midpoint
of a side of a triangle parallel to another
side bisects the third side.
Parallel lines preserve ratios of intercepts
on transversals.

hypotenuse and side in proportion

join of midpoints

converse of join of midpoints

parallel lines preserve ratios