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Geometry
Theorems and Properties
This list of Geometry theorems and properties may be a useful reference throughout the year. Consider
printing this, or making a set of flash cards to help you memorize and practice these theorems. Many exam
questions will be easier if you have these theorems memorized.
Properties of Real Numbers and Geometric Quantities
• Addition Property of Equality
o If a = b, then a + c = b + c
• Subtraction Property of Equality
o If a = b, then a – c = b – c
• Multiplication Property of Equality
o If a = b, then ac = bc
• Division Property of Equality
• If a = b, then ac=bc (where c ≠ 0)
• Reflexive Property
o The reflexive property of congruence indicates that any geometric quantity is congruent to itself.
o For any geometric quantity a, a ≅ a.
o Example: For the geometric angle ∠45°, ∠45° ≅ ∠45°
• Symmetric Property
o The symmetric property of congruence indicates that if one geometry quantity is congruent to a second
geometry quantity, then the second geometric quantity is also congruent to the first one.
o For any geometric quantities a and b, if a ≅ b, then b ≅ a.
o Example: For the line segments AB and CD, if AB ≅ CD, then CD ≅ AB.
• Transitive Property
o The transitive property of congruence indicates that if one geometric quantity is congruent to a second
geometric quantity and the second geometric quantity is congruent to a third geometric quantity, then the first
and third geometric quantities are congruent.
o For example, if Jenna is the same age as Dylan and Dylan is the same age as Pedro, then Jenna is the same age as
Pedro.
o Geometry example: For the line segments AB, CD, and EF, if AB ≅ CD and CD ≅ EF,then AB ≅ EF.
• Substitution
o The substitution property of congruence indicates that a geometric quantity may be substituted for any
equivalent geometric quantity in any geometric expression.
o For any geometric quantities where a = b, then a may be replaced by b in any geometric expression.
o Example: For the line segments AB, CD, and EF, where the measure of EF = 6 units, and AB = CD + EF,
then AB = CD + 6 where EF is replaced by 6.
Building Blocks of Geometry
Distance Formula
The distance between two points with coordinates (x1 , y1 ) and (x2, y2 ) is √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2
Midpoint Theorem
1
If B is the midpoint of segment ̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐶 , then ̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = 2 ̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐶 .
Overlapping Segment Theorem Converse of Overlapping Segment Theorem
Suppose P, K, E and C are collinear and appear in Suppose P, K, E and C are collinear and appear in
that order on a line. If ̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝐾 = ̅̅̅̅
𝐸𝐶 then ̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝐸 = ̅̅̅̅
𝐾𝐶 . that order on a line. If ̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝐸 = ̅̅̅̅
𝐾𝐶 then ̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝐾 = ̅̅̅̅
𝐸𝐶 .
Angles
Alternate Exterior Angles Theorem (AEA thm) Converse of the Alternate Exterior Angles Theorem
If two parallel lines are cut by a transversal, then the If two lines cut by a transversal form congruent
alternate exterior angles are congruent. alternate exterior angles, then the lines are parallel.
Alternate Interior Angles Theorem (AIA thm) Converse of the Alternate Interior Angles Theorem
If two parallel lines are cut by a transversal, then the If two lines cut by a transversal form congruent
alternate interior angles are congruent. alternate interior angles, then the lines are parallel.
Same Side Interior Angles Theorem (SSI thm) Converse of the Same Side Interior Angles Theorem
If two parallel lines are cut by a transversal, then the If two line cut by a transversal form supplementary
same side interior angles are supplementary. same side interior angles, then the lines are parallel.
Vertical Angle Theorem
If two lines intersect to form vertical angles, then the angles have equal measures.
Triangles
Pythagorean Theorem Converse of the Pythagorean Theorem
The sum of the squares of the legs of a right triangle If the sum of the squares of two sides of a triangle is
is equal to the square of the hypotenuse. equal to the square of the longest side of the
triangle, then the triangle is a right triangle.
Isosceles Triangle Theorem
If two sides of a triangle are congruent, then the two angles which are opposite from those congruent sides
are congruent.
Exterior Angle Theorem (also known as Remote Interior Angle Theorem)
The measure of an exterior angle of a triangle is equal to the sum of the measures of the two remote (non-
adjacent) interior angles.
Triangle Angle Sum Theorem
The sum of the measures of the interior angles of a triangle is 180°.
CPCTC Theorem
This theorem is an acronym for "corresponding parts of congruent triangles are congruent". If two triangles
are congruent, then corresponding angle pairs are congruent and corresponding side pairs are congruent.
Quadrilaterals
If the same pair opposite sides of a parallelogram are congruent and parallel, then the quadrilateral is a
parallelogram.
If opposite angles of a parallelogram are congruent parallel, then the quadrilateral is a parallelogram.
If the diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other parallel, then the quadrilateral is a parallelogram
Circles
If two chords intersect inside a circle, then the product of the lengths of the segments of one chord equals
the product of the lengths of the segments of the other chord.
If two secants intersect in the exterior of a circle, the product of the lengths of one secant and its external
secant segment is equal to the product of the lengths of the other secant and its external secant segment.
The length of the tangent segment squared is equal to the product of the lengths of the secant and its
external secant segment.
