MATH 6118-090
Non-Euclidean Geometry
Exercise Set #5
Solutions
A parallelogram is defined to be a quadrilateral in which the lines containing opposite
sides are non-intersecting.
1. Prove that in Euclidean geometry, a quadrilateral is a parallelogram if and only if
opposite sides are congruent. Show with a generic example that in hyperbolic
geometry, the opposite sides of a parallelogram need not be congruent.
∠ABD ≅ ∠CDB and ∠ADB ≅ ∠DBD by the Converse of the Alternate Interior
Angle Theorem. DB ≅ DB so, by Angle-Side-Angle ΔABD ≅ ΔCDB and it follows
immediately that CD ≅ AB and BC ≅ AD .
If opposite sides are congruent, then by SSS ΔABD ≅ ΔCDB , thus ∠ABD ≅ ∠CDB
HJJG HJJG
and AB & CD by the Alternate Interior Angles Theorem. A similar proof shows that
the other two sides are parallel.
A Saccheri quadrilateral is a parallelogram in H2 whose base and summit are not
congruent.
NOTE: For the remainder of this problem, the geometry is hyperbolic.
2. Given , ABCD with opposite sides congruent, prove that opposite angles are
congruent and that the lines containing opposite sides are hyperparallel. Such a
quadrilateral is called a symmetric parallelogram.
Given AD ≅ BC and AB ≅ DC . AC ≅ AC so that ΔACD ≅ ΔCAB by Side-Side-Side
Criterion. Thus, ∠D ≅ ∠B . Using the diagonal BD we can prove similarly that
∠A ≅ ∠C .
HJJG
Let M be the midpoint
HJJG of AC. Drop perpendiculars from M to AB , calling the foot
M A , and to CD , calling the foot M C . We know that MA ≅ MC . Since
ΔABC ≅ ΔCDA , ∠DCA ≅ ∠BAC . Thus, by Hypotenuse-Angle ΔMM A A ≅ ΔMM C C
and ∠M C MC ≅ ∠M A MA . It then follows that M A , M C , and M are collinear and
HJJG HJJG
that AB and CD have a common perpendicular and are thus hyperparallel. A
HJJG HJJG
similar analysis shows that AD and BC are hyperparallel.
3. For a symmetric parallelogram , ABCD prove that the diagonals have the same
midpoint, M. Show that M is also the midpoint of the common perpendicular of
both pairs of hyperparallel opposite sides.
Let M be the midpoint of AC. Construct MB and MD. Since ΔABC ≅ ΔCDA ,
∠CAB ≅ ∠ACD and, hence, ΔMAB ≅ ΔMCD by Side-Angle-Side. Thus, BM ≅ DM
and M is the midpoint of BD.
Exercise Set #5 Page 1 Spring 2008
From above we know that the common perpendicular to both pair of congruent
sides passes through M. Also, we showed that ΔMM A A ≅ ΔMM C C which implies
that MM A ≅ MM C . A similar argument shows that the same is true for the common
HJJG HJJG
perpendicular to BC and AD .
4. Show that the diagonals are perpendicular if and only if all four sides are congruent,
and in that case, , ABCD has an inscribed circle with center M.
( ⇐ ) Assume that all four sides are congruent. By SSS ΔDMC ≅ ΔBMC which
implies that ∠DMC ≅ ∠BMC and since they are supplementary angles, they must
be right angles. Thus, AD ⊥ BD .
( ⇒ ) Assume that the diagonals are perpendicular. Then since MD ≅ MB ,
MC ≅ MC , and ∠DMC ≅ ∠BMC (right angles), we have that ΔDMC ≅ ΔBMC . It
now follows that DC ≅ BC and hence AB ≅ BC ≅ CD ≅ DA .
5. Show that the diagonals are congruent if and only if all four angles are congruent;
however in that case, show that all four sides need not be congruent.
( ⇐ ) Assume that all four angles are congruent. ∠A ≅ ∠B ≅ ∠C ≅ ∠D . Since
AD ≅ BC and CD ≅ CD , ΔACD ≅ ΔBCD from which we have that BD ≅ AC .
( ⇒ ) BD ≅ AC , AD ≅ BC , and CD ≅ CD so, by SSS ΔADC ≅ ΔBCD and ∠D ≅ ∠C .
The rest follows simply.
Given a Lambert quadrilateral in which the sides adjacent to the acute angle are
not congruent — such do exist — we take four copies and glue them together like so
to get an equiangular symmetric quadrilateral in which all four sides are not
congruent.
Exercise Set #5 Page 2 Spring 2008