How to prove a midpoint?

1. Using the definition of the midpoint.

 Prove that two segments with a common point are equal.
 Show that the three points are collinear
 Give the definition of the midpoint: the midpoint divides the segment into
equal segments

Example:

We have:

 AM = MB = 3 cm (by given)
 A,M and B are collinear points

Therefore, M is the midpoint of [AB].

Because the midpoint divides the segment into two equal segments

2. Using the definition of the perpendicular bisector

 Show that (d) the perpendicular bisector of a segment [AB] passes through M.
 Give the definition of the perpendicular bisector: the perpendicular bisector of a
segment passes through the segment at its midpoint perpendicularly.

Example:

 (u) is the perpendicular bisector of [MN] at R (by given)

 So R is the midpoint of [MN]
 Because the perpendicular bisector of a segment is
Perpendicular to the segment at its midpoint.

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How to prove a line is a perpendicular bisector of a segment.

1. Using the definition:

 Show that the line and the segment are perpendicular.
 Show that the line passes through the midpoint of a segment.
 Give the definition of the perpendicular bisector: the perpendicular
bisector of a segment is perpendicular to the segment at its midpoint.

Example:
Given:
 (u) perpendicular to [MN] at R
 R is the midpoint of [MN]
What does (u) represent to [MN]? R

 R is the midpoint of [MN] (by given)

 (u) perpendicular to [MN] at R (by given)
 Then (u) is the perpendicular bisector of [MN]
 Because the perpendicular bisector of a segment passes through the segment at
its midpoint perpendicularly.

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2. Using the second property: (Very important)
 Prove that 2 points belong to the perpendicular bisector.
 Therefore, these 2 points form the perpendicular bisector of this segment.

Example: (CD) is the perpendicular bisector of [AB].

To prove that (CD) is the perpendicular bisector of [AB] we will prove using property 2
that C belongs to the perpendicular bisector of [AB] and the same D belongs to the
perpendicular bisector of [AB].

 CA = CB ( by given)
 Therefore C belongs to the perpendicular bisector of segment [AB]
 Because (property 2) any point which is equidistant to the extremities
of a segment belongs to the perpendicular bisector of this segment.

The same for point D:

 DA = DB ( by given)
 Therefore D belongs to the perpendicular bisector of segment [AB]
 Because (property 2) any point which is equidistant to the extremities

of a segment belongs to the perpendicular bisector of this segment.

So the line formed by these two points which is (AD) are the perpendicular bisector of
[AB].

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How to prove a point equidistant to the extremities of a segment?

Where by given this point belongs to the perpendicular bisector of this segment.

Example:
 (u) perpendicular bisector of [MN]
 I belongs to (u)
Prove that IM = IN / Compare IM and IN

• I belongs to (u) the perpendicular bisector of [MN] (by given)

• Therefore IM = IN
• Because (property 1) any point on the perpendicular bisector of a segment is
equidistant to the extremities of this segment.

Prop. 1 : given point on the perp. Bisector  equidistant (Comparing two segment)

Prop. 2 : equidistant  point on the perp. Bisector (location of a point )

How to prove that a point belongs to the perpendicular bisector of a segment?

Given BA = BC
Where is B located?

 BA = BC ( by given)
 Therefore B belongs to the perpendicular bisector of segment [AC]
 Because (property 2) any point which is equidistant to the extremities of a
segment belongs to the perpendicular bisector of this segment.

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 Given that A belongs to the
perpendicular bisector of
[MN]

property 1 Conclusion AM = AN

Qustions about it:

1)Show that AM = AN
2) Compare AM and AN

Pependicular
bisector
Given AM = AN

Conclusion: A belongs to the

perpendicular bisector of
[MN]
Property 2
Question: Show that A
belongs to a perpendicular
bisector

You may use this property

while proving a line is a
perpendicular bisector

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 How to prove a semi line is a bisector for an angle?
By the definition of the bisector, you should prove that we have:
 Two equal angles.
 Two adjacent angles
 So, the common side of the two angles is the bisector because the bisector
divides the angle into two equal adjacent angles.

Example:
̂ = 𝑦𝑂𝑧
 𝑥𝑂𝑦 ̂ = 30° (by given)
̂ and 𝑦𝑂𝑧
 𝑥𝑂𝑦 ̂ are adjacent angles because:

O is the same vertex

[Oy) is the common side.
They are located on opposite sides of their
common side.
̂
 So [Oy) is the bisector of 𝑥𝑂𝑧
 Because (definition) the bisector divides the angle into two equal adjacent
angles.

How to find the measure of an angle through a bisector.

1. Given the measure of the whole angle.

̂ (by given)
[Oy) is the bisector of 𝑥𝑂𝑧
̂
𝑥𝑂𝑧 60
̂ = 𝑦𝑂𝑧
Then 𝑥𝑂𝑦 ̂= = = 30°
2 2

Because the bisector divides the angle into two equal adjacent angles.
̂ = 60° (by given)
where 𝑥𝑂𝑧

̂ = yOz
Note that you have a bisector by given so you are able to say that xOy ̂ and you
̂ over 2
divide the angle xOz

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 2. Given the measure of one-half of the angle.

̂ (by given)
[Oy) is the bisector of 𝑥𝑂𝑧

̂ = 𝑦𝑂𝑧
Then 𝑥𝑂𝑦 ̂ = 30°

̂ = 30° (by given)

Where 𝑦𝑂𝑧
Because the bisector divides the angle into two equal
adjacent angles.

Note that you have a bisector by given so you are able to say that we have two equal
̂ = yOz
angles, xOy ̂

Relative Position of Two Angles:

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Collinear points:
Definition: Three points or more are said to be collinear if they belong to the same straight line.

Proving collinear points:

1) If the three points form a straight angle.
̂ = 180° Then A, B and C are collinear points.
Example: 𝐴𝐵𝐶

2) If the sum of 2 segments [AB] and [BC] that has a point in common is equal to a
third [AC]
Example: AB = 10 cm, AC = 4 cm and CB = 6 cm
AB = AC + CB then A, B and C are collinear points

3) If two lines having point in common are parallel to a third so they are coinciding
lines.
Hence, the points are collinear.
Example:
(AB) // (d) and (AC) // (d)
Then (AB) // (AC) with A a common point
So, (AB) and (AC) are coinciding.
Therefore A, B and C are three collinear points.

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Application:
I. ̂ = 𝟔𝟎° and 𝒙𝑶𝒚
Given that 𝒙𝑶𝒛 ̂ = 𝟑𝟎°
̂?
What does [Oy) represent to 𝒙𝑶𝒛

̂.
We can see that [Oy) is the bisector of 𝒙𝑶𝒛
So We will prove that we have two equal angles
And these equal angles are adjacent.
̂
𝑥𝑂𝑧 60
̂ = 𝑦𝑂𝑧
𝑥𝑂𝑦 ̂= = = 30°
2 2

(you are not allowed to divide by two because till this moment we didn’t prove a bisector)
̂ as a missing angle.
We will calculate 𝒛𝑶𝒚
̂ = 𝒙𝑶𝒛
𝒛𝑶𝒚 ̂ − 𝒙𝑶𝒚
̂ = 𝟔𝟎 − 𝟑𝟎 = 𝟑𝟎°
̂ = 𝑦𝑂𝑧
̂ = 30° Two equal
Thus 𝑥𝑂𝑦
adjacent
̂ and 𝑦𝑂𝑧
And 𝑥𝑂𝑦 ̂ are adjacent angles because: angles

O is the same vertex So the

common side
[Oy) is the common side. is the angle
They are located on opposite sides of their bisector
common side.

̂
Finally [Oy) is the bisector of 𝑥𝑂𝑧

Because (definition) the bisector divides the angle into two equal adjacent angles.

II. ̂ and 𝑧𝑂𝑦

𝑥𝑂𝑧 ̂ are two complementary adjacent angles where 𝑥𝑂𝑧
̂ = 20°.

̂.
Calculate 𝑧𝑂𝑦

̂ and 𝑧𝑂𝑦
𝑥𝑂𝑧 ̂ are two complementary angles so their sum is 90°.

̂ + 𝑧𝑂𝑦
𝑥𝑂𝑧 ̂ = 90° then 𝑧𝑂𝑦
̂ = 90 − 20 = 70°

(you have to start with addition sentence because their sum is 90°)
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