Geometry For Dummies
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A good way to begin any geometric proof is to make a game plan, or rough outline, of how you'd do the proof. The formal way of writing out a two-column proof can be difficult, especially at first—almost like learning a foreign language.

Writing a proof is easier if you break it into two shorter, more-manageable pieces. First, you jot down or simply think through a game plan, in which you go through the logic of the proof with your common sense without being burdened by getting the technical language right. Once you've done that, the second step of translating that logic into the two-column format isn't so hard.

When you're working through a game plan, it's sometimes a good idea to make up arbitrary numbers for the segments and angles in the givens and for unmentioned segments and angles. You should not, however, make up numbers for segments and angles that you're trying to show are congruent. This optional step makes the proof diagram more concrete and makes it easier for you to get a handle on how the proof works.

Here's an example:

geometry-proof

And here's the proof diagram.

geometry-proof-diagram

Here's one possible game plan for the proof: The givens provide you with two pairs of perpendicular segments; that gives you 90 degrees for angles BDE and BFE. Then, say congruent angles 1 and 2 are both 30 degrees. That would make angles 3 and 4 both equal to 90°–30°, or 60°. Next, because angles 3 and 5 are complementary, as are angles 4 and 6, angles 5 and 6 would both be 30 degrees. Angles 5 and 8 are congruent vertical angles, as are angles 6 and 7, so angles 7 and 8 would also have to be 30 degrees—and thus they're congruent. Finally, because angle 7 is congruent to angle 8, angle ABC is bisected. That does it. Now, you can transfer this information to your two-column proof.

About This Article

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About the book author:

Mark Ryan is the founder and owner of The Math Center in the Chicago area, where he provides tutoring in all math subjects as well as test preparation. Mark is the author of Calculus For Dummies, Calculus Workbook For Dummies, and Geometry Workbook For Dummies.

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