What Does Congruent Mean In Math Terms

Relating to geometric figures that have the same size and shape.

What does congruent mean in math terms. In math we have a special symbol to show congruency. If we call our squares square a and square b we can write that they are congruent using the congruency symbol which is an equal sign. Exactly equal in size and shape. In geometry two figures or objects are congruent if they have the same shape and size or if one has the same shape and size as the mirror image of the other.

While the size and shape of two congruent objects are equal their orientations may be different. Equal should be used to relate the lengths or measurements of two sides angles or parts of shapes. Congruent sides or segments have the exact same length. Congruent means that objects have the same shape.

Two objects are congruent if they have the same dimensions and shape. Congruent segments sides and angles are often marked. Maybe because they are only equal when placed on top of each other. Anyway it comes from latin congruere to agree so the shapes agree.

Why such a funny word that basically means equal. It does not mean that they are equal exactly. Two triangles are congruent for example if their sides are of the same length and their internal angles are of the same measure. Congruent angles have the exact same measure for any set of congruent geometric figures corresponding sides angles faces etc.

Definition and meaning of the math word congruent. Very loosely you can think of it as meaning equal but it has a very precise meaning that you should understand completely especially for complex shapes such as polygons. In this example the shapes are congruent. The ability to recognize congruence is important in geometry and other fields that rely on this type of math.

More formally two sets of points are called congruent if and only if one can be transformed into the other by an isometry i e a combination of rigid motions namely a translation a rotation and a reflection.