The Encyclopedia of Geometry (0031)


Problem

Two right triangles which have equal hypotenuses and equal acute angles are congruent.


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Solution

Let $∠B=∠E=∠R$, $AC=DF$ and $∠C=∠F$.

Place $D$ on top of $A$, $F$ on top of $C$, and $E$ on the same side as $B$ with respect to $AC$.

Since $∠C=∠F$,  $FE$ overlaps $CB$.

Then since $AB$ and $DE$ also share the point $A$ and are perpendicular to $CB (=FE)$, they overlap.

$$∴ \ ⊿ABC≡⊿DEF.$$

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Reference

Teiichiro Sasabe (1976) The Encyclopedia of Geometry (2nd edition), Seikyo-Shinsha, p.10