SSA Exploration
Testing SSA Congruence
In this activity you will determine if knowing two pairs of corresponding sides and a non-included angle are congruent (SSA) is enough information to prove two triangles congruent.
In the exploration below, segments A'B' and B'C' are fixed to match the lengths of their corresponding objects, and the angle at point C' is fixed to be congruent to angle BCA, but you are able to manipulate the other sides and angles. Experiment by moving the points around in order to test the theory that Side-Side-Angle is a criteria for triangle congruence. Is it possible to make the second triangle different than the first, or are they always congruent?
Are the triangles always congruent when two sides and a non-included side are congruent?