The LA Theorem

Let's start with the LA theorem. The LA Theorem is my theory about how Los Angeles traffic is,
wait, hang on...this LA has nothing to do with Los Angeles. The LA in LA theorem refers to leg-
acute. It states that if the leg and an acute angle of one right triangle are congruent to the
corresponding leg and acute angle of another right triangle, then the triangles are congruent.
Whew. That theorem takes about as long to explain as it takes to get anywhere in LA traffic. I'm
pretty sure marching bands would move more quickly on the 405. As for the LA theorem, when
you think about it, it's very logical.
Let's look at two triangles, ABC and DEF.

They definitely look like they belong in a marching band together, don't they? We know that
they're both right triangles. Angles B and E are each 90 degrees. And we know AB is congruent
to DE and angle A is congruent to angle D.
Using the LA theorem, we could say, 'Ok, two right triangles. And we've got a leg and an acute
angle that match, so they're congruent.' But why is this true?
Notice that since B and E are congruent, too, that this is really just the angle-side-angle
postulate. The fact that they're right triangles just gives us a shortcut. It's like being born with a
trumpet already in your hands. Hmm, maybe that's not a good idea.
But even if we didn't have included sides, like AB and DE here, it would still be just like ASA.
What if we know A and D are congruent, but then BC and EF? Well, since the sum of the interior
angles of a triangle is 180, we know that C and F must also be congruent to each other. So we
still get our angle-side-angle.
Leg Leg Theorem :

Leg Leg (LL) Theorem is the theorem which can be used to prove the congruence of two right
triangles.

Leg Leg Theorem

Explanation :

If the legs of one right triangle are congruent to the legs of another right triangle, then the two
right triangles are congruent.

This principle is known as Leg-Leg theorem.

Leg Leg Theorem - Example

Check whether two triangles ABC and CDE are congruent.

Solution :

(i) Triangle ABC and triangle CDE are right triangles.

Because they both have a right angle.

(i) AC = CE (Leg)

(ii) BC = CD (Leg)

Hence, the two triangles ABC and CDE are congruent

by Leg-Leg theorem.
The Hypotenuse Leg Theorem states that if the hypotenuse and one leg of a triangle
are congruent to the hypotenuse and leg of another triangle, then the two triangles are
congruent.

In the figure above, and are right triangles with right angles at and and
with and . We are going to show that the two triangles are
congruent.
Given
Triangle and , right angled at and respectively,
with and .

Proof
It is given that , , so by the definition of congruence,

and .

Now, by Pythagorean Theorem,

and .

Since , by substitution, we have

Now, since ,

Subtracting EF^2 from both sides, we have

So, by the SSS Congruence, .

Hypotenuse Angle Theorem

Last month, we have discussed the proof of the Hypotenuse Leg Theorem. It states that if the
hypotenuse and a leg of a right triangle are congruent to the hypotenuse and leg of another
triangle, then the two triangles are congruent. In this post, we are going to discuss a related
theorem on right triangles, the Hypotenuse Angle Theorem or HA Theorem. The HA Theorem
states that if the hypotenuse and an acute angle of a right triangle are congruent to the
hypotenuse and an acute angle of another triangle, then the two triangles are congruent.
Theorem

If the hypotenuse and an acute angle of a right triangle are congruent to the hypotenuse and an
acute angle of another triangle, then the two triangles are congruent.

Proof

Let and be right triangles right angled at and . Let and .

It is given that angle and .

Since and are right angles, (Can you see why?).

So, by ASA Congruence, .

Therefore, if the hypotenuse and an acute angle of a right triangle are congruent to the
hypotenuse and an acute angle of another triangle, then the two triangles are congruent.