Geometry Handbook

Math Handbook
of Formulas, Processes and Tricks
(www.mathguy.us)
Geometry

Prepared by: Earl L. Whitney, FSA, MAAA
Version 3.1
October 3, 2017

Copyright 2010‐2017, Earl Whitney, Reno NV. All Rights Reserved
Geometry Handbook
Table of Contents
Page Description
Chapter 1: Basics
6 Points, Lines & Planes
7 Segments, Rays & Lines
8 Distance Between Points (1‐Dimensional, 2‐Dimensional)
9 Distance Formula in “n” Dimensions
10 Angles
11 Types of Angles
Chapter 2: Proofs
12 Conditional Statements (Original, Converse, Inverse, Contrapositive)
13 Basic Properties of Algebra (Equality and Congruence, Addition and Multiplication)
14 Inductive vs. Deductive Reasoning
15 An Approach to Proofs
Chapter 3: Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
16 Parallel Lines and Transversals
17 Multiple Sets of Parallel Lines
18 Proving Lines are Parallel
19 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines in the Coordinate Plane
Chapter 4: Triangles ‐ Basic
20 Types of Triangles (Scalene, Isosceles, Equilateral, Right)
21 Congruent Triangles (SAS, SSS, ASA, AAS, CPCTC)
22 Centers of Triangles
23 Length of Height, Median and Angle Bisector
24 Inequalities in Triangles
Chapter 5: Polygons
25 Polygons – Basic (Definitions, Names of Common Polygons)
26 Polygons – More Definitions (Definitions, Diagonals of a Polygon)
27 Interior and Exterior Angles of a Polygon
Cover art by Rebecca Williams,
Twitter handle: @jolteonkitty
Version 3.1 Page 2 of 82 October 3, 2017

Geometry Handbook
Table of Contents
Page Description
Chapter 6: Quadrilaterals
28 Definitions of Quadrilaterals
29 Figures of Quadrilaterals
30 Characteristics of Parallelograms
31 Parallelogram Proofs (Sufficient Conditions)
32 Kites and Trapezoids
Chapter 7: Transformations
33 Introduction to Transformation
35 Reflection
36 Rotation
37 Rotation by 90⁰ about a Point (x0, y0)
40 Translation
41 Compositions
Chapter 8: Similarity
42 Ratios Involving Units
43 Similar Polygons
44 Scale Factor of Similar Polygons
45 Dilations of Polygons
46 More on Dilation
47 Similar Triangles (SSS, SAS, AA)
48 Proportion Tables for Similar Triangles
49 Three Similar Triangles
Chapter 9: Right Triangles
50 Pythagorean Theorem
51 Pythagorean Triples
52 Special Triangles (45⁰‐45⁰‐90⁰ Triangle, 30⁰‐60⁰‐90⁰ Triangle)
53 Trigonometric Functions and Special Angles
54 Trigonometric Function Values in Quadrants II, III, and IV
55 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
56 Vectors
57 Operating with Vectors

Geometry Handbook
Table of Contents
Page Description
Chapter 10: Circles
58 Parts of a Circle
59 Angles and Circles
Chapter 11: Perimeter and Area
60 Perimeter and Area of a Triangle
61 More on the Area of a Triangle
62 Perimeter and Area of Quadrilaterals
63 Perimeter and Area of General Polygons
64 Circle Lengths and Areas
65 Area of Composite Figures
Chapter 12: Surface Area and Volume
66 Polyhedra
67 A Hole in Euler’s Theorem
68 Platonic Solids
69 Prisms
70 Cylinders
71 Surface Area by Decomposition
72 Pyramids
73 Cones
74 Spheres
75 Similar Solids
76 Summary of Perimeter and Area Formulas – 2D Shapes
77 Summary of Surface Area and Volume Formulas – 3D Shapes
78 Index

Geometry Handbook
Table of Contents
Useful Websites
Wolfram Math World – Perhaps the premier site for mathematics on the Web. This site contains
definitions, explanations and examples for elementary and advanced math topics.
mathworld.wolfram.com/
Mathguy.us – Developed specifically for math students from Middle School to College, based on the
author's extensive experience in professional mathematics in a business setting and in math
tutoring. Contains free downloadable handbooks, PC Apps, sample tests, and more.
www.mathguy.us
California Standard Geometry Test – A standardized Geometry test released by the state of
California. A good way to test your knowledge.
www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/documents/rtqgeom.pdf
Schaum’s Outlines
An important student resource for any high school math student is a
Schaum’s Outline. Each book in this series provides explanations of the
various topics in the course and a substantial number of problems for the
student to try. Many of the problems are worked out in the book, so the
student can see examples of how they should be solved.
Schaum’s Outlines are available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and
other booksellers.

Chapter 1 Basic Geometry
Geometry
Points, Lines & Planes

Item Illustration Notation Definition
Point A location in space.
Segment A straight path that has two endpoints.
A straight path that has one endpoint
Ray and extends infinitely in one direction.
A straight path that extends infinitely in
Line l or
both directions.
m or A flat surface that extends infinitely in
Plane (points , , two dimensions.
not linear)
Collinear points are points that lie on the same line.
Coplanar points are points that lie on the same plane.
In the figure at right:
 , , , , and are points.
 l is a line
 m and n are planes.
In addition, note that:
 , , and are collinear points.
 , and are coplanar points.
 , and are coplanar points.
 Ray goes off in a southeast direction.
An intersection of geometric
 Ray goes off in a northwest direction. shapes is the set of points they
 Together, rays and make up line l. share in common.
 Line l intersects both planes m and n. l and m intersect at point E.

Note: In geometric figures such as the one above, it is
l and n intersect at point D.
important to remember that, even though planes are m and n intersect in line .
drawn with edges, they extend infinitely in the 2
dimensions shown.

Geometry
Segments, Rays & Lines

Some Thoughts About …
Line Segments
 Line segments are generally named by their endpoints, so the
segment at right could be named either or .
 Segment contains the two endpoints (A and B) and all points on line that are
between them.
Rays
 Rays are generally named by their single endpoint,
called an initial point, and another point on the ray.
 Ray contains its initial point A and all points on line
in the direction of the arrow.
 Rays and are not the same ray.
 If point O is on line and is between points A and B,
then rays and are called opposite rays. They
have only point O in common, and together they make up line .
Lines
 Lines are generally named by either a single script letter
(e.g., l) or by two points on the line (e.g.,. ).
 A line extends infinitely in the directions shown by its
arrows.
 Lines are parallel if they are in the same plane and they
never intersect. Lines f and g, at right, are parallel.
 Lines are perpendicular if they intersect at a 90⁰ angle. A
pair of perpendicular lines is always in the same plane.
Lines f and e, at right, are perpendicular. Lines g and e are
also perpendicular.
 Lines are skew if they are not in the same plane and they
never intersect. Lines k and l, at right, are skew.
(Remember this figure is 3‐dimensional.)

Geometry
Distance Between Points

Distance measures how far apart two things are. The distance between two points can be
measured in any number of dimensions, and is defined as the length of the line connecting the
two points. Distance is always a positive number.

1‐Dimensional Distance

In one dimension the distance between two points is determined simply by subtracting the
coordinates of the points.

Example: In this segment, the distance between ‐2 and 5 is calculated as: 5 2 7.

2‐Dimensional Distance

In two dimensions, the distance between two points can be calculated by considering the line
between them to be the hypotenuse of a right triangle. To determine the length of this line:
 Calculate the difference in the x‐coordinates of the points
 Calculate the difference in the y‐coordinates of the points
 Use the Pythagorean Theorem.

This process is illustrated below, using the variable “d” for distance.

Example: Find the distance between (‐1,1) and (2,5). Based on the
illustration to the left:
x‐coordinate difference: 2 1 3.
y‐coordinate difference: 5 1 4.
Then, the distance is calculated using the formula: 3 4 9 16 25
So,

If we define two points generally as (x1, y1) and (x2, y2), then a 2‐dimensional distance formula
would be:


Geometry ADVANCED
Distance Formula in “n” Dimensions

The distance between two points can be generalized to “n” dimensions by successive use of the
Pythagorean Theorem in multiple dimensions. To move from two dimensions to three
dimensions, we start with the two‐dimensional formula and apply the Pythagorean Theorem to
add the third dimension.

3 Dimensions

Consider two 3‐dimensional points (x1, y1, z1) and (x2, y2, z2). Consider first the situation
where the two z‐coordinates are the same. Then, the distance between the points is 2‐
dimensional, i.e., .

We then add a third dimension using the Pythagorean Theorem:

And, finally the 3‐dimensional difference formula:

n Dimensions

Using the same methodology in “n” dimensions, we get the generalized n‐dimensional
difference formula (where there are n terms beneath the radical, one for each dimension):

⋯

Or, in higher level mathematical notation:
The distance between 2 points A=(a1, a2, … , an) and B=(b1, b2, … , bn) is

, | |

Geometry
Angles

Parts of an Angle
An angle consists of two rays with a common
endpoint (or, initial point).
 Each ray is a side of the angle.
 The common endpoint is called the vertex of
the angle.
Naming Angles
Angles can be named in one of two ways:
 Point‐vertex‐point method. In this method, the angle is named from a point on one
ray, the vertex, and a point on the other ray. This is the most unambiguous method of
naming an angle, and is useful in diagrams with multiple angles sharing the same vertex.
In the above figure, the angle shown could be named ∠ or ∠ .
 Vertex method. In cases where it is not ambiguous, an angle can be named based solely
on its vertex. In the above figure, the angle could be named ∠ .
Measure of an Angle
There are two conventions for measuring the size of an angle:
 In degrees. The symbol for degrees is ⁰. There are 360⁰ in a full circle. The angle above
measures approximately 45⁰ (one‐eighth of a circle).
 In radians. There are 2 radians in a complete circle. The angle above measures
approximately radians.
Some Terms Relating to Angles
Angle interior is the area between the rays.
Angle exterior is the area not between the rays.
Adjacent angles are angles that share a ray for a side. ∠ and
∠ in the figure at right are adjacent angles.
Congruent angles area angles with the same measure.
Angle bisector is a ray that divides the angle into two congruent
angles. Ray bisects ∠ in the figure at right.

Geometry
Types of Angles

C
A B D

Supplementary Angles Complementary Angles

Angles A and B are supplementary. Angles C and D are complementary.
Angles A and B form a linear pair.
∠ ∠ 90⁰

∠ ∠ 180⁰

Angles which are opposite each other when
two lines cross are vertical angles.
Angles E and G are vertical angles.
F Angles F and H are vertical angles.
E G
H ∠ ∠ ∠ ∠

In addition, each angle is supplementary to
the two angles adjacent to it. For example:
Vertical Angles
Angle E is supplementary to Angles F and H.

An acute angle is one that is less than 90⁰. In
the illustration above, angles E and G are
acute angles.

A right angle is one that is exactly 90⁰.
Acute Obtuse
An obtuse angle is one that is greater than
90⁰. In the illustration above, angles F and H
are obtuse angles.
A straight angle is one that is exactly 180⁰.
Right Straight


Chapter 2 Proofs
Geometry
Conditional Statements
A conditional statement contains both a hypothesis and a conclusion in the following form:

If hypothesis, then conclusion.

Statements linked
For any conditional statement, it is possible to create three related below by red arrows
conditional statements, as shown below. In the table, p is the hypothesis must be either both
of the original statement and q is the conclusion of the original statement. true or both false.

Example
Type of Conditional Statement
Statement is:
Original Statement: If p, then q. ( → )
 Example: If a number is divisible by 6, then it is divisible by 3. TRUE
 The original statement may be either true or false.
Converse Statement: If q, then p. ( → )

 Example: If a number is divisible by 3, then it is divisible by 6.
FALSE
 The converse statement may be either true or false, and this does not
depend on whether the original statement is true or false.
Inverse Statement: If not p, then not q. (~ → ~ )

 Example: If a number is not divisible by 6, then it is not divisible by 3.
FALSE
 The inverse statement is always true when the converse is true and
false when the converse is false.
Contrapositive Statement: If not q, then not p. (~ → ~ )

 Example: If a number is not divisible by 3, then it is not divisible by 6.
TRUE
 The Contrapositive statement is always true when the original
statement is true and false when the original statement is false.
Note also that:
 When two statements must be either both true or both false, they are called equivalent
statements.
o The original statement and the contrapositive are equivalent statements.
o The converse and the inverse are equivalent statements.
 If both the original statement and the converse are true, the phrase “if and only if”
(abbreviated “iff”) may be used. For example, “A number is divisible by 3 iff the sum of
its digits is divisible by 3.”

Chapter 2 Proofs
Geometry
Basic Properties of Algebra

Properties of Equality and Congruence.

Definition for Equality Definition for Congruence
Property
For any geometric elements a, b and c.
For any real numbers a, b, and c:
(e.g., segment, angle, triangle)
Reflexive Property ≅
Symmetric Property , ≅ , ≅
Transitive Property , ≅ ≅ , ≅
If , then either can be If ≅ , then either can be

Substitution Property substituted for the other in any substituted for the other in any
equation (or inequality). congruence expression.

More Properties of Equality. For any real numbers a, b, and c:

Property Definition for Equality
Addition Property ,
Subtraction Property ,
Multiplication Property , ∙ ∙
Division Property 0,

Properties of Addition and Multiplication. For any real numbers a, b, and c:

Property Definition for Addition Definition for Multiplication
Commutative Property ∙ ∙
Associative Property ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙
Distributive Property ∙ ∙ ∙


Chapter 2 Proofs
Geometry
Inductive vs. Deductive Reasoning
Inductive Reasoning
Inductive reasoning uses observation to form a hypothesis or conjecture. The hypothesis can
then be tested to see if it is true. The test must be performed in order to confirm the
hypothesis.
Example: Observe that the sum of the numbers 1 to 4 is 4 ∙ 5/2 and that the sum of the

numbers 1 to 5 is 5 ∙ 6/2 . Hypothesis: the sum of the first n numbers is ∗ 1 /2 .
Testing this hypothesis confirms that it is true.

Deductive Reasoning
Deductive reasoning argues that if something is true about a broad category of things, it is true
of an item in the category.
Example: All birds have beaks. A pigeon is a bird; therefore, it has a beak.
There are two key types of deductive reasoning of which the student should be aware:

 Law of Detachment. Given that → , if p is true then q is true. In words, if one
thing implies another, then whenever the first thing is true, the second must also be
true.
Example: Start with the statement: “If a living creature is human, then it has a brain.”
Then because you are human, we can conclude that you have a brain.

 Syllogism. Given that → and → , we can conclude that → . This is a kind of
transitive property of logic. In words, if one thing implies a second and that second
thing implies a third, then the first thing implies the third.
Example: Start with the statements: “If my pencil breaks, I will not be able to write,”
and “if I am not able to write, I will not pass my test.” Then I can conclude that “If my
pencil breaks, I will not pass my test.”


Chapter 2 Proofs
Geometry
An Approach to Proofs
Learning to develop a successful proof is one of the key skills students develop in geometry.
The process is different from anything students have encountered in previous math classes, and
may seem difficult at first. Diligence and practice in solving proofs will help students develop
reasoning skills that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.
Requirements in Performing Proofs
 Each proof starts with a set of “givens,” statements that you are supplied and from
which you must derive a “conclusion.” Your mission is to start with the givens and to
proceed logically to the conclusion, providing reasons for each step along the way.
 Each step in a proof builds on what has been developed before. Initially, you look at
what you can conclude from the” givens.” Then as you proceed through the steps in the
proof, you are able to use additional things you have concluded based on earlier steps.
 Each step in a proof must have a valid reason associated with it. So, each statement in
the proof must be furnished with an answer to the question: “Why is this step valid?”
Tips for Successful Proof Development
 At each step, think about what you know and what you can conclude from that
information. Do this initially without regard to what you are being asked to prove. Then
look at each thing you can conclude and see which ones move you closer to what you
are trying to prove.
 Go as far as you can into the proof from the beginning. If you get stuck, …
 Work backwards from the end of the proof. Ask yourself what the last step in the proof
is likely to be. For example, if you are asked to prove that two triangles are congruent,
try to see which of the several theorems about this is most likely to be useful based on
what you were given and what you have been able to prove so far.
 Continue working backwards until you see steps that can be added to the front end of
the proof. You may find yourself alternating between the front end and the back end
until you finally bridge the gap between the two sections of the proof.
 Don’t skip any steps. Some things appear obvious, but actually have a mathematical
reason for being true. For example, might seem obvious, but “obvious” is not a
valid reason in a geometry proof. The reason for is a property of algebra called
the “reflexive property of equality.” Use mathematical reasons for all your steps.

Chapter 3 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
Geometry
Parallel Lines and Transversals

Transversal
Alternate: refers to angles that are on
opposite sides of the transversal.

A B Consecutive: refers to angles that are
on the same side of the transversal.
C D
Parallel Lines Interior: refers to angles that are
F between the parallel lines.
E
H Exterior: refers to angles that are
G
outside the parallel lines.
Corresponding Angles
Corresponding Angles are angles in the same location relative to the parallel lines and the
transversal. For example, the angles on top of the parallel lines and left of the transversal (i.e.,
top left) are corresponding angles.
Angles A and E (top left) are Corresponding Angles. So are angle pairs B and F (top right), C
and G (bottom left), and D and H (bottom right). Corresponding angles are congruent.
Alternate Interior Angles
Angles D and E are Alternate Interior Angles. Angles C and F are also alternate interior angles.
Alternate interior angles are congruent.
Alternate Exterior Angles
Angles A and H are Alternate Exterior Angles. Angles B and G are also alternate exterior
angles. Alternate exterior angles are congruent.
Consecutive Interior Angles
Angles C and E are Consecutive Interior Angles. Angles D and F are also consecutive interior
angles. Consecutive interior angles are supplementary.
Note that angles A, D, E, and H are congruent, and angles B, C, F, and G are congruent. In
addition, each of the angles in the first group are supplementary to each of the angles in the
second group.

Geometry
Multiple Sets of Parallel Lines
Two Transversals
Sometimes, the student is presented two sets of intersecting parallel lines, as shown above.
Note that each pair of parallel lines is a set of transversals to the other set of parallel lines.
A B I J
C D K L

E F M N
H P
G O

In this case, the following groups of angles are congruent:
 Group 1: Angles A, D, E, H, I, L, M and P are all congruent.
 Group 2: Angles B, C, F, G, J, K, N, and O are all congruent.
 Each angle in the Group 1 is supplementary to each angle in Group 2.

Geometry
Proving Lines are Parallel
The properties of parallel lines cut by a transversal can be used to prove two lines are parallel.
Corresponding Angles
If two lines cut by a transversal have congruent corresponding angles,
then the lines are parallel. Note that there are 4 sets of corresponding
angles.
Alternate Interior Angles
If two lines cut by a transversal have congruent alternate interior angles
congruent, then the lines are parallel. Note that there are 2 sets of
alternate interior angles.
Alternate Exterior Angles
If two lines cut by a transversal have congruent alternate exterior
angles, then the lines are parallel. Note that there are 2 sets of
alternate exterior angles.
Consecutive Interior Angles
If two lines cut by a transversal have supplementary consecutive
interior angles, then the lines are parallel. Note that there are 2 sets of
consecutive interior angles.


Geometry
Parallel and Perpendicular Lines in the Coordinate Plane

Parallel Lines
Two lines are parallel if their slopes are equal.
 In form, if the values of are
the same.
Example: 2 3 and
2 1
 In Standard Form, if the coefficients of and
are proportional between the equations.
Example: 3 2 5 and
6 4 7
 Also, if the lines are both vertical (i.e., their
slopes are undefined).
Example: 3 and
2
Perpendicular Lines
Two lines are perpendicular if the product of their
slopes is . That is, if the slopes have different
signs and are multiplicative inverses.
 In form, the values of
multiply to get 1..
Example: 6 5 and
3
 In Standard Form, if you add the product of
the x‐coefficients to the product of the y‐
coefficients and get zero.
Example: 4 6 4 and
3 2 5 because 4 ∙ 3 6∙ 2 0
 Also, if one line is vertical (i.e., is undefined) and one line is horizontal (i.e., 0).

Example: 6 and
3

Chapter 4 Triangles ‐ Basic
Geometry
Types of Triangles

Scalene Isosceles
A Scalene Triangle has 3 sides of different An Isosceles Triangle has 2 sides the same
lengths. Because the sides are of length (i.e., congruent). Because two
different lengths, the angles must also be sides are congruent, two angles must also
of different measures. be congruent.

Equilateral Right
An Equilateral Triangle has all 3 sides the A Right Triangle is one that contains a 90⁰
same length (i.e., congruent). Because all
angle. It may be scalene or isosceles, but
3 sides are congruent, all 3 angles must cannot be equilateral. Right triangles
also be congruent. This requires each have sides that meet the requirements of
angle to be 60⁰. the Pythagorean Theorem.
60⁰ 60⁰
60⁰

Geometry
Congruent Triangles

The following theorems present conditions under which triangles are congruent.

Side‐Angle‐Side (SAS) Congruence
SAS congruence requires the congruence of

two sides and the angle between those sides.

Note that there is no such thing as SSA

congruence; the congruent angle must be

between the two congruent sides.

Side‐Side‐Side (SSS) Congruence
SSS congruence requires the congruence of all

three sides. If all of the sides are congruent

then all of the angles must be congruent. The

converse is not true; there is no such thing as

AAA congruence.

Angle‐Side‐Angle (ASA) Congruence

ASA congruence requires the congruence of

two angles and the side between those angles.

Note: ASA and AAS combine to provide
congruence of two triangles whenever
any two angles and any one side of the
Angle‐Angle‐Side (AAS) Congruence triangles are congruent.

AAS congruence requires the congruence of

two angles and a side which is not between

those angles.

CPCTC

CPCTC means “corresponding parts of congruent triangles are congruent.” It is a very
powerful tool in geometry proofs and is often used shortly after a step in the proof where a pair
of triangles is proved to be congruent.

Geometry
Centers of Triangles

The following are all points which can be considered the center of a triangle.

Centroid (Medians)

The centroid is the intersection of the three medians of a triangle. A median is a
line segment drawn from a vertex to the midpoint of the line opposite the
vertex.

 The centroid is located 2/3 of the way from a vertex to the opposite side. That is, the distance from a
vertex to the centroid is double the length from the centroid to the midpoint of the opposite line.
 The medians of a triangle create 6 inner triangles of equal area.

Orthocenter (Altitudes)

The orthocenter is the intersection of the three altitudes of a triangle. An
altitude is a line segment drawn from a vertex to a point on the opposite side
(extended, if necessary) that is perpendicular to that side.

 In an acute triangle, the orthocenter is inside the triangle.
 In a right triangle, the orthocenter is the right angle vertex.
 In an obtuse triangle, the orthocenter is outside the triangle.

Circumcenter (Perpendicular Bisectors)

The circumcenter is the intersection of the
perpendicular bisectors of the three sides of the
triangle. A perpendicular bisector is a line which Euler Line: Interestingly,
the centroid, orthocenter
both bisects the side and is perpendicular to the
and circumcenter of a
side. The circumcenter is also the center of the
triangle are collinear (i.e.,
circle circumscribed about the triangle. lie on the same line,
which is called the Euler
 In an acute triangle, the circumcenter is inside the triangle. Line).
 In a right triangle, the circumcenter is the midpoint of the hypotenuse.
 In an obtuse triangle, the circumcenter is outside the triangle.

Incenter (Angle Bisectors)
The incenter is the intersection of the angle bisectors of the three angles of
the triangle. An angle bisector cuts an angle into two congruent angles, each
of which is half the measure of the original angle. The incenter is also the
center of the circle inscribed in the triangle.


Geometry
Length of Height, Median and Angle Bisector

Height
The formula for the length of a height of a triangle is derived
from Heron’s formula for the area of a triangle:

where, , and
, , are the lengths of the sides of the triangle.

Median
The formula for the length of a median of a triangle is:

√
where, , , are the lengths of the sides of the triangle.

Angle Bisector
The formula for the length of an angle bisector of a triangle is:

where, , , are the lengths of the sides of the triangle.


Geometry
Inequalities in Triangles

Angles and their opposite sides in triangles are related. In fact, this is often reflected in the
labeling of angles and sides in triangle illustrations.

Angles and their opposite sides are often
labeled with the same letter. An upper case
letter is used for the angle and a lower case
letter is used for the side.

The relationship between angles and their opposite sides translates into the following triangle
inequalities:
If ∠ ∠ ∠ , then
If ∠ ∠ ∠ , then
That is, in any triangle,
 The largest side is opposite the largest angle.
 The medium side is opposite the medium angle.
 The smallest side is opposite the smallest angle.
Other Inequalities in Triangles
Triangle Inequality: The sum of the lengths of any two sides of a triangle
is greater than the length of the third side. This is a crucial element in
deciding whether segments of any 3 lengths can form a triangle.

Exterior Angle Inequality: The measure of an external angle is greater than the measure of
either of the two non‐adjacent interior angles. That is, in the figure below:
∠ ∠ ∠ ∠
Note: the Exterior Angle Inequality is much less relevant than the Exterior Angle Equality.
Exterior Angle Equality: The measure of an external angle is equal to the sum of the measures
of the two non‐adjacent interior angles. That is, in the figure below:
∠ ∠ ∠

Chapter 5 Polygons
Geometry
Polygons ‐ Basics

Basic Definitions
Polygon: a closed path of three or more line segments, where:
 no two sides with a common endpoint are collinear, and
 each segment is connected at its endpoints to exactly two other segments.
Side: a segment that is connected to other segments (which are also sides) to form a polygon.
Vertex: a point at the intersection of two sides of the polygon. (plural form: vertices)
Diagonal: a segment, from one vertex to another, which is not a side.

Vertex

Diagonal
Side

Concave: A polygon in which it is possible to draw a diagonal “outside” the
polygon. (Notice the orange diagonal drawn outside the polygon at
right.) Concave polygons actually look like they have a “cave” in them.

Convex: A polygon in which it is not possible to draw a diagonal “outside” the
polygon. (Notice that all of the orange diagonals are inside the polygon
at right.) Convex polygons appear more “rounded” and do not contain
“caves.”

Names of Some Common Polygons
Number Number Names of polygons

of Sides Name of Polygon of Sides Name of Polygon are generally formed
3 Triangle 9 Nonagon from the Greek
language; however,
4 Quadrilateral 10 Decagon
some hybrid forms of
5 Pentagon 11 Undecagon Latin and Greek (e.g.,
6 Hexagon 12 Dodecagon undecagon) have
7 Heptagon 20 Icosagon crept into common
usage.
8 Octagon n n‐gon

Chapter 5 Polygons
Geometry
Polygons – More Definitions

Definitions “Advanced” Definitions:
Equilateral: a polygon in which all of the sides are equal in length. Simple Polygon: a
Equiangular: a polygon in which all of the angles have the same polygon whose sides do
measure. not intersect at any
location other than its
Regular: a polygon which is both equilateral and equiangular. That endpoints. Simple
is, a regular polygon is one in which all of the sides have the same polygons always divide a
length and all of the angles have the same measure. plane into two regions –
one inside the polygon and
one outside the polygon.
Interior Angle: An angle formed by two sides of a polygon. The
Complex Polygon: a
angle is inside the polygon.
polygon with sides that
Exterior Angle: An angle formed by one side of a polygon and the intersect someplace other
line containing an adjacent side of the polygon. The angle is outside than their endpoints (i.e.,
the polygon. not a simple polygon).
Complex polygons do not
always have well‐defined
insides and outsides.

Exterior Interior Skew Polygon: a polygon
Angle Angle for which not all of its

vertices lie on the same
plane.

How Many Diagonals Does a Convex Polygon Have?
Believe it or not, this is a common question with a simple solution. Consider a polygon with n
sides and, therefore, n vertices.
 Each of the n vertices of the polygon can be connected to other vertices with
diagonals. That is, it can be connected to all other vertices except itself and the two to
which it is connected by sides. So, there are ∙ lines to be drawn as diagonals.
 However, when we do this, we draw each diagonal twice because we draw it once from
each of its two endpoints. So, the number of diagonals is actually half of the number we
calculated above.
 Therefore, the number of diagonals in an n‐sided polygon is:
∙


Chapter 5 Polygons
Geometry
Interior and Exterior Angles of a Polygon

Interior Angles
Interior Angles
The sum of the interior angles in an ‐sided polygon is: Sum of Each
Sides Interior Interior
∑ ∙ ° Angles Angle
3 180⁰ 60⁰
If the polygon is regular, you can calculate the measure of 4 360⁰ 90⁰
each interior angle as: 5 540⁰ 108⁰
6 720⁰ 120⁰
∙ ° 7 900⁰ 129⁰

8 1,080⁰ 135⁰
9 1,260⁰ 140⁰
Notation: The Greek letter “Σ” is equivalent 10 1,440⁰ 144⁰
to the English letter “S” and is math short‐hand
for a summation (i.e., addition) of things.

Exterior Angles
Exterior Angles
No matter how many sides there are in a polygon, the sum Sum of Each
of the exterior angles is: Sides Exterior Exterior
Angles Angle
∑ ⁰ 3 360⁰ 120⁰
4 360⁰ 90⁰
If the polygon is regular, you can calculate the measure of
5 360⁰ 72⁰
each exterior angle as:
6 360⁰ 60⁰

7 360⁰ 51⁰
⁰
8 360⁰ 45⁰
9 360⁰ 40⁰
10 360⁰ 36⁰

Chapter 6 Quadrilaterals
Geometry
Definitions of Quadrilaterals

Name Definition
Quadrilateral A polygon with 4 sides.
A quadrilateral with two consecutive pairs of congruent sides, but
Kite
with opposite sides not congruent.
Trapezoid A quadrilateral with exactly one pair of parallel sides.
Isosceles Trapezoid A trapezoid with congruent legs.
Parallelogram A quadrilateral with both pairs of opposite sides parallel.
Rectangle A parallelogram with all angles congruent (i.e., right angles).
Rhombus A parallelogram with all sides congruent.
Square A quadrilateral with all sides congruent and all angles congruent.

Quadrilateral Tree:
Quadrilateral
Kite Parallelogram Trapezoid
Rectangle Rhombus Isosceles

Trapezoid
Square


Geometry
Figures of Quadrilaterals

Kite Trapezoid Isosceles Trapezoid

 2 consecutive pairs of  1 pair of parallel sides  1 pair of parallel sides

congruent sides (called “bases”)  Congruent legs

 1 pair of congruent  Angles on the same  2 pair of congruent base
opposite angles “side” of the bases are angles
 Diagonals perpendicular supplementary  Diagonals congruent

Parallelogram Rectangle
 Both pairs of opposite sides parallel  Parallelogram with all angles

 Both pairs of opposite sides congruent congruent (i.e., right angles)

 Both pairs of opposite angles congruent  Diagonals congruent

 Consecutive angles supplementary

 Diagonals bisect each other

Rhombus Square
 Parallelogram with all sides congruent  Both a Rhombus and a Rectangle
 Diagonals perpendicular  All angles congruent (i.e., right angles)
 Each diagonal bisects a pair of  All sides congruent
opposite angles

Geometry
Characteristics of Parallelograms

Characteristic Square Rhombus Rectangle Parallelogram
2 pair of parallel sides    
Opposite sides are congruent    
Opposite angles are congruent    
Consecutive angles are supplementary    
Diagonals bisect each other    
All 4 angles are congruent (i.e., right angles)  
Diagonals are congruent  
All 4 sides are congruent  
Diagonals are perpendicular  
Each diagonal bisects a pair of opposite angles  
Notes: Red ‐marks are conditions sufficient to prove the quadrilateral is of the type specified.
Green ‐marks are conditions sufficient to prove the quadrilateral is of the type specified if the quadrilateral is a
parallelogram.


Geometry
Parallelogram Proofs

Proving a Quadrilateral is a Parallelogram
To prove a quadrilateral is a parallelogram, prove any of the following conditions:
1. Both pairs of opposite sides are parallel. (note: this is the definition of a parallelogram)
2. Both pairs of opposite sides are congruent.
3. Both pairs of opposite angles are congruent.
4. An interior angle is supplementary to both of its consecutive angles.
5. Its diagonals bisect each other.
6. A pair of opposite sides is both parallel and congruent.

Proving a Quadrilateral is a Rectangle
To prove a quadrilateral is a rectangle, prove any of the following conditions:
1. All 4 angles are congruent.
2. It is a parallelogram and its diagonals are congruent.

Proving a Quadrilateral is a Rhombus
To prove a quadrilateral is a rhombus, prove any of the following conditions:
1. All 4 sides are congruent.
2. It is a parallelogram and Its diagonals are perpendicular.
3. It is a parallelogram and each diagonal bisects a pair of opposite angles.

Proving a Quadrilateral is a Square
To prove a quadrilateral is a square, prove:
1. It is both a Rhombus and a Rectangle.


Geometry
Kites and Trapezoids

Facts about a Kite
To prove a quadrilateral is a kite, prove:
 It has two pair of congruent sides.
 Opposite sides are not congruent.
Also, if a quadrilateral is a kite, then:
 Its diagonals are perpendicular
 It has exactly one pair of congruent opposite angles.

Parts of a Trapezoid Base
Midsegment
Trapezoid ABCD has the following parts:
Leg
 and are bases.
 and are legs. Leg
 is the midsegment.
 and are diagonals.
 Angles A and D form a pair of base angles.
Diagonals
 Angles B and C form a pair of base angles. Base
Trapezoid Midsegment Theorem
The midsegment of a trapezoid is parallel to each of its bases and: .

Proving a Quadrilateral is an Isosceles Trapezoid
To prove a quadrilateral is an isosceles trapezoid, prove any of the following conditions:
1. It is a trapezoid and has a pair of congruent legs. (definition of isosceles trapezoid)
2. It is a trapezoid and has a pair of congruent base angles.
3. It is a trapezoid and its diagonals are congruent.


Chapter 7 Transformations
Geometry
Introduction to Transformation
A Transformation is a mapping of the pre‐image of a geometric figure onto an image that
retains key characteristics of the pre‐image.
Definitions
The Pre‐Image is the geometric figure before it has been transformed.
The Image is the geometric figure after it has been transformed.
A mapping is an association between objects. Transformations are types of mappings. In the

figures below, we say ABCD is mapped onto A’B’C’D’, or ’ ’ ’ ’. The order of the
vertices is critical to a properly named mapping.
An Isometry is a one‐to‐one mapping that preserves lengths. Transformations that are
isometries (i.e., preserve length) are called rigid transformations.
Isometric Transformations

Reflection is flipping a Rotation is turning a Translation is sliding a
figure across a line called figure around a point. figure in the plane so that
a “mirror.” The figure Rotated figures retain it changes location but
retains its size and shape, their size and shape, but retains its shape, size and
but appears “backwards” not their orientation. orientation.

after the reflection.

Table of Characteristics of Isometric Transformations
Transformation Reflection Rotation Translation

Isometry (Retains Lengths)? Yes Yes Yes
Retains Angles? Yes Yes Yes
Retains Orientation to Axes? No No Yes


Geometry
Introduction to Transformation (cont’d)
Transformation of a Point
A point is the easiest object to transform. Simply reflect, rotate or translate it following the
rules for the transformation selected. By transforming key points first, any transformation
becomes much easier.
Transformation of a Geometric Figure
To transform any geometric figure, it is only necessary to transform the items that define the
figure, and then re‐form it. For example:
 To transform a line segment, transform its two endpoints, and then connect the
resulting images with a line segment.
 To transform a ray, transform the initial point and any other point on the ray, and then
construct a ray using the resulting images.
 To transform a line, transform any two points on the line, and then fit a line through the
resulting images.
 To transform a polygon, transform each of its vertices, and then connect the resulting
images with line segments.
 To transform a circle, transform its center and, if necessary, its radius. From the
resulting images, construct the image circle.
 To transform other conic sections (parabolas, ellipses and hyperbolas), transform the
foci, vertices and/or directrix. From the resulting images, construct the image conic
section.
Example: Reflect Quadrilateral ABCD


Geometry
Reflection
Definitions
Reflection is flipping a figure across a mirror.
The Line of Reflection is the mirror through which the
reflection takes place.
Note that:
 The line segment connecting corresponding points in
the image and pre‐image is bisected by the mirror.
 The line segment connecting corresponding points in
the image and pre‐image is perpendicular to the mirror.

Reflection through an Axis or the Line
Reflection of the point (a, b) through the x‐ or y‐axis or the line gives the following
results:
Pre‐Image Mirror Image

Point Line Point
(a, b) x‐axis (a, ‐b)
(a, b) y‐axis (‐a, b)
(a, b) the line: (b, a)
If you forget the above table, start with the point 3, 2 on a set of coordinate axes. Reflect
the point through the selected line and see which set of “a, b” coordinates works.

Line of Symmetry
A Line of Symmetry is any line through which a figure can be mapped onto itself. The thin black
lines in the following figures show their axes of symmetry:


Geometry
Rotation
Definitions
Rotation is turning a figure by an angle about a fixed point.
The Center of Rotation is the point about which the figure is
rotated. Point P, at right, is the center of rotation.
The Angle of Rotation determines the extent of the rotation.
The angle is formed by the rays that connect the center of
rotation to the pre‐image and the image of the rotation. Angle
P, at right, is the angle of rotation. Though shown only for
Point A, the angle is the same for any of the figure’s 4 vertices.
Note: In performing rotations, it is important to indicate the direction of the rotation –
clockwise or counterclockwise.
Rotation about the Origin
Rotation of the point (a, b) about the origin (0, 0) gives the following results:
Pre‐Image Clockwise Counterclockwise Image

Point Rotation Rotation Point
(a, b) 90⁰ 270⁰ (b, ‐a)
(a, b) 180⁰ 180⁰ (‐a, ‐b)
(a, b) 270⁰ 90⁰ (‐b, a)
(a, b) 360⁰ 360⁰ (a, b)
If you forget the above table, start with the point 3, 2 on a set of coordinate axes. Rotate the
point by the selected angle and see which set of “a, b” coordinates works.

Rotational Symmetry
A figure in a plane has Rotational Symmetry if it can be mapped onto itself by a rotation of
180⁰ or less. Any regular polygon has rotational symmetry, as does a circle. Here are some
examples of figures with rotational symmetry:


ADVANCED
Geometry
Rotation by 90⁰ about a Point (x0, y0)

Rotating an object by 90⁰ about a point involves rotating each point of the object by 90⁰ about
that point. For a polygon, this is accomplished by rotating each vertex and then connecting
them to each other, so you mainly have to worry about the vertices, which are points. The
mathematics behind the process of rotating a point by 90⁰ is described below:

Let’s define the following points:
 The point about which the rotation will take place: (x0, y0)
 The initial point (before rotation): (x1, y1)
 The final point (after rotation): (x2, y2)

The problem is to determine (x2, y2) if we are given (x0, y0) and (x1, y1). It involves 3 steps:
1. Convert the problem to one of rotating a point about the origin (a much easier
problem).
2. Perform the rotation.
3. Convert the result back to the original set of axes.

We’ll consider each step separately and provide an example:

Problem: Rotate a point by 90⁰ about another point.

Step 1: Convert the problem to one of rotating a point about the origin:
First, we ask how the point (x1, y1) relates to the point about which it will be rotated (x0,
y0) and create a new (“translated”) point. This is essentially an “axis‐translation,” which
we will reverse in Step 3.
General Situation Example
Points in the Problem Points in the Problem
 Rotation Center: (x0, y0)  Rotation Center: (2, 3)
 Initial point: (x1, y1)  Initial point: (‐2, 1)
 Final point: (x2, y2)  Final point: to be determined
Calculate a new point that represents how Calculate a new point that represents how
(x1, y1) relates to (x0, y0). That point is: (‐2, 1) relates to (2, 3). That point is:
(x1‐x0, y1‐y0) (‐4, ‐2)

The next steps depend on whether we are making a clockwise or counter clockwise rotation.

ADVANCED
Geometry
Rotation by 90⁰ about a Point (cont’d)

Clockwise Rotation:

Step 2: Perform the rotation about the origin:
Rotating by 90⁰ clockwise about the origin (0, 0) is simply a process of switching the x‐
and y‐values of a point and negating the new y‐term. That is (x, y) becomes (y, ‐x) after
rotation by 90⁰.
Pre‐rotated point (from Step 1): Pre‐rotated point (from Step 1):
(x1‐x0, y1‐y0) (‐4, ‐2)
Point after rotation: Point after rotation:
(y1‐y0, ‐x1+x0) (‐2, 4)

Step 3: Convert the result back to the original set of axes.
To do this, simply add back the point of rotation (which was subtracted out in Step 1.
(y1‐y0, ‐x1+x0) (‐2, 4)
Add back the point of rotation (x0, y0): Add back the point of rotation (2, 3):
(y1‐y0+x0 , ‐x1+x0+y0) (0, 7)
which gives us the values of (x2, y2)

Finally, look at the formulas for x2 and y2:

Clockwise Rotation Notice that the formulas for
clockwise and counter‐

x2 = y1 - y0 + x0 clockwise rotation by 90⁰ are
the same except the terms in

y2 = -x1 + x0 + y0 blue are negated between the
formulas.

Interesting note: If you are asked to find the point about which the rotation occurred, you
simply substitute in the values for the starting point (x1, y1) and the ending point (x2, y2) and
solve the resulting pair of simultaneous equations for x0 and y0.


ADVANCED
Geometry
Rotation by 90⁰ about a Point (cont’d)

Counter‐Clockwise Rotation:

Step 2: Perform the rotation about the origin:
Rotating by 90⁰ counter‐clockwise about the origin (0, 0) is simply a process of switching
the x‐ and y‐values of a point and negating the new x‐term. That is (x, y) becomes (‐y, x)
after rotation by 90⁰.
Pre‐rotated point (from Step 1): Pre‐rotated point (from Step 1):
(x1‐x0, y1‐y0) (‐4, ‐2)
(‐y1+y0, x1‐x0) (2, ‐4)

Step 3: Convert the result back to the original set of axes.
To do this, simply add back the point of rotation (which was subtracted out in Step 1.
(‐y1+y0, x1‐x0) (2,‐4)
Add back the point of rotation (x0, y0): Add back the point of rotation (2, 3):
(‐y1+y0+x0 , x1‐x0+y0) (4, ‐1)
which gives us the values of (x2, y2)

Finally, look at the formulas for x2 and y2:

Counter-Clockwise Rotation Notice that the formulas for
clockwise and counter‐

x2 = -y1 + y0 + x0 clockwise rotation by 90⁰ are
the same except the terms in

y2 = x1 - x0 + y0 blue are negated between the
formulas.

Interesting note: The point half‐way between the clockwise and counter‐clockwise rotations of
90⁰ is the center of rotation itself, (x0, y0). In the example, (2, 3) is halfway between (0, 7) and
(4, ‐1).


Geometry
Translation
Definitions

Translation is sliding a figure in the plane. Each
point in the figure is moved the same distance in

the same direction. The result is an image that

looks the same as the pre‐image in every way,
except it has been moved to a different location

in the plane.

Each of the four orange line segments in the

figure at right has the same length and direction.
When Two Reflections One Translation
If two mirrors are parallel, then reflection through
one of them, followed by a reflection through the
second is a translation.
In the figure at right, the black lines show the paths
of the two reflections; this is also the path of the
resulting translation. Note the following:
 The distance of the resulting translation
(e.g., from A to A’’) is double the distance
between the mirrors.
 The black lines of movement are perpendicular to both mirrors.

Defining Translations in the Coordinate Plane (Using Vectors)
A translation moves each point by the same distance in the same direction. In the coordinate
plane, this is equivalent to moving each point the same amount in the x‐direction and the same
amount in the y‐direction. This combination of x‐ and y‐direction movement is described by a
mathematical concept called a vector.
In the above figure, translation from A to ′′ moves 10 in the x‐direction and the ‐3 in the y‐
direction. In vector notation, this is: ′′ 〈 , 〉. Notice the “half‐ray” symbol over the
two points and the funny‐looking brackets around the movement values.
So, the translation resulting from the two reflections in the above figure moves each point of
the pre‐image by the vector ′′. Every translation can be defined by the vector representing
its movement in the coordinate plane.

Geometry
Compositions
When multiple transformations are combined, the result is called a Composition of the
Transformations. Two examples of this are:
 Combining two reflections through parallel mirrors to generate a translation (see the
previous page).
 Combining a translation and a reflection to generate what is called a glide reflection.
The glide part of the name refers to translation, which is a kind of gliding of a figure on
the plane.

Note: In a glide reflection, if the line of reflection is parallel to the direction of the
translation, it does not matter whether the reflection or the translation is performed first.

Figure 1: Translation followed by Reflection. Figure 2: Reflection followed by Translation.

Composition Theorem
The composition of multiple isometries is as Isometry. Put more simply, if transformations that
preserve length are combined, the composition will preserve length. This is also true of
compositions of transformations that preserve angle measure.
Order of Composition
Order matters in most compositions that involve more than one class of transformation. If you
apply multiple transformations of the same kind (e.g., reflection, rotation, or translation), order
generally does not matter; however, applying transformations in more than one class may
produce different final images if the order is switched.


Chapter 8 Similarity
Geometry
Ratios Involving Units

Ratios Involving Units
Example:
When simplifying ratios containing the same units:
3 1
 Simplify the fraction.
12 4
 Notice that the units disappear. They behave
Note: the unit “inches cancel out, so
just like factors; if the units exist in the
the answer is , not .
numerator and denominator, the cancel and are
not in the answer.
When simplifying ratios containing different units:
 Adjust the ratio so that the numerator and denominator have the same units.
 Simplify the fraction.
 Notice that the units disappear.
Example:
3 3 3 1

2 2 ∙ 12 ⁄ 24 8
Dealing with Units
Notice in the above example that units can be treated the same as factors; they can be used in
fractions and they cancel when they divide. This fact can be used to figure out whether
multiplication or division is needed in a problem. Consider the following:
Example: How long did it take for a car traveling at 48 miles per hour to go 32 miles?
Consider the units of each item: 32 48
 If you multiply, you get: 32 ∙ 48 1,536 . This is clearly wrong!
 If you divide, you get: 32 48 ∙ . Now,

this looks reasonable. Notice how the " " unit cancel out in the final answer.
Now you could have solved this problem by remembering that ∙ , or
. However, paying close attention to the units also generates the correct answer. In
addition, the ”units” technique always works, no matter what the problem!


Geometry
Similar Polygons
In similar polygons,
 Corresponding angles are congruent, and
 Corresponding sides are proportional.
Both of these conditions are necessary for two
polygons to be similar. Conversely, when two
polygons are similar, all of the corresponding
angles are congruent and all of the sides are proportional.
Naming Similar Polygons
Similar polygons should be named such that corresponding angles are in the same location in
the name, and the order of the points in the name should “follow the polygon around.”
Example: The polygons above could be shown similar with the following names:
~
It would also be acceptable to show the similarity as:
~
Any names that preserve the order of the points and keeps corresponding angles in
corresponding locations in the names would be acceptable.
Proportions
One common problem relating to similar polygons is to present three side lengths, where two
of the sides correspond, and to ask for the length of the side corresponding to the third length.
Example: In the above similar polygons, if 20, 12, 6, ?

This problem is solvable with proportions. To do so properly, it is important to relate
corresponding items in the proportion:
20 12
10
6
Notice that the left polygon is represented on the top of both proportions and that the left‐
most segments of the two polygons are in the left fraction.


Geometry
Scale Factors of Similar Polygons
From the similar polygons below, the following is known about the lengths of the sides:

That is, the ratios of corresponding sides in the
two polygons are the same and they equal
some constant , called the scale factor of the
two polygons. The value of , then, is all you
need to know to relate corresponding sides in
the two polygons.
Finding the Missing Length
Any time the student is asked to find the missing length in similar polygons:
 Look for two corresponding sides for which the values are known.
 Calculate the value of .
 Use the value of to solve for the missing length.
is a measure of the relative size of the two polygons. Using this knowledge, it is possible to
put into words an easily understandable relationship between the polygons.
 Let Polygon 1 be the one whose sides are in the numerators of the fractions.
 Let Polygon 2 be the one whose sides are in the denominators of the fractions.
 Then, it can be said that Polygon 1 is times the size of the Polygon 2.
Example: In the above similar polygons, if 20, 12, 6, ?

Seeing that and relate, calculate:
12
2
6
Then solve for based on the value of :
20
→ 2 → 10
Also, since 2, the length of every side in the blue polygon is double the length of its
corresponding side in the orange polygon.

Geometry
Dilation of Polygons
A dilation is a special case of transformation involving similar polygons. It can be thought of as
a transformation that creates a polygon of the same shape but a different size from the original.
Key elements of a dilation are:
 Scale Factor – The scale factor of similar polygons is the constant which represents the
relative sizes of the polygons.
 Center – The center is the point from which the dilation takes place.
Note that 0 and 1 in order to generate a second polygon. Then,

 If 1, the dilation is called an “enlargement.”
 If 1, the dilation is called a “reduction.”
Dilations with Center (0, 0)
In coordinate geometry, dilations are often performed with the center being the origin 0, 0 .
In that case, to obtain the dilation of a polygon:
 Multiply the coordinates of each vertex by the scale factor , and
 Connect the vertices of the dilation with line segments (i.e., connect the dots).
Examples:
In the following examples:
 The green polygon is the original.
 The blue polygon is the dilation.
 The dashed orange lines show the movement away from
(enlargement) or toward (reduction) the center, which is
the origin in all 3 examples.
Notice that, in each example:

∙

This fact can be used to construct dilations when coordinate axes
are not available. Alternatively, the student could draw a set of
coordinate axes as an aid to performing the dilation.

ADVANCED
Geometry
More on Dilation
Dilations of Non‐Polygons
Any geometric figure can be dilated. In the dilation of the
green circle at right, notice that:
 The dilation factor is 2.
 The original circle has center 7, 3 and radius 5.
 The dilated circle has center 14, 6 and radius 10.
So, the center and radius are both increased by a factor of 2. This is true of any figure in a
dilation with the center at the origin. All of the key elements that define the figure are
increased by the scale factor .
Dilations with Center ,
In the figures below, the green quadrilaterals are dilated to the blue ones with a scale factor of
2. Notice the following:
In the figure to the left, the dilation has center
0, 0 , whereas in the figure to the right, the
dilation has center 4, 3 . The size of the
resulting figure is the same in both cases
(because 2 in both figures), but the
location is different.
Graphically, the series of transformations that is equivalent to a dilation from a point ,
other than the origin is shown below. Compare the final result to the figure above (right).
 Step 1: Translate the original figure by , to reset the center at the origin.
 Step 2: Perform the dilation.
 Step 3: Translate the dilated figure by , . These steps are illustrated below.
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Geometry
Similar Triangles

The following theorems present conditions under which triangles are similar.
Side‐Angle‐Side (SAS) Similarity
SAS similarity requires the proportionality of

two sides and the congruence of the angle

between those sides. Note that there is no such

thing as SSA similarity; the congruent angle must

be between the two proportional sides.
Side‐Side‐Side (SSS) Similarity
SSS similarity requires the proportionality of all
three sides. If all of the sides are proportional,
then all of the angles must be congruent.

Angle‐‐Angle (AA) Similarity
AA similarity requires the congruence of two
angles and the side between those angles.

Similar Triangle Parts
In similar triangles,
 Corresponding sides are proportional.
 Corresponding angles are congruent.
Establishing the proper names for similar triangles is crucial to line up corresponding vertices.
In the picture above, we can say:
∆ ~∆ or ∆ ~∆ or ∆ ~∆ or
∆ ~∆ or ∆ ~∆ or ∆ ~∆
All of these are correct because they match corresponding parts in the naming. Each of these
similarities implies the following relationships between parts of the two triangles:
∠ ≅ ∠ and ∠ ≅ ∠ and ∠ ≅ ∠


Geometry
Proportion Tables for Similar Triangles

Setting Up a Table of Proportions
It is often useful to set up a table to identify the proper proportions
in a similarity. Consider the figure to the right. The table might look
something like this:
Triangle Left Side Right Side Bottom Side
Top ∆ AB BC CA
Bottom ∆ DE EF FD
The purpose of a table like this is to organize the information you have about the similar
triangles so that you can readily develop the proportions you need.
Developing the Proportions
To develop proportions from the table:
 Extract the columns needed from the table:

AB BC
DE EF Also from the above
table,
 Eliminate the table lines.
 Replace the horizontal lines with “division lines.”
 Put an equal sign between the two resulting fractions:

Solving for the unknown length of a side:
You can extract any two columns you like from the table. Usually, you will have information on
lengths of three of the sides and will be asked to calculate a fourth.
Look in the table for the columns that contain the 4 sides in question, and then set up your
proportion. Substitute known values into the proportion, and solve for the remaining variable.


Geometry
Three Similar Triangles

A common problem in geometry is to find the missing value in proportions based on a set of
three similar triangles, two of which are inside the third. The diagram often looks like this:

Pythagorean Relationships

Inside triangle on the left:

Inside triangle on the right:
Outside (large) triangle:

c

Similar Triangle Relationships
Because all three triangles are similar, we have the relationships in the table below. These
relationships are not obvious from the picture, but are very useful in solving problems based on
the above diagram. Using similarities between the triangles, 2 at a time, we get:
From the inside triangle on From the inside triangle on
From the two inside triangles the left and the outside the right and the outside
triangle triangle

or or or
∙ ∙ ∙
The left side squared The right side squared
The height squared
= the product of: = the product of:
= the product of:
the part of the base below it the part of the base below it
the two parts of the base
and the entire base and the entire base


Chapter 9 Right Triangles
Geometry
Pythagorean Theorem

In a right triangle, the Pythagorean Theorem says:

where,
 a and b are the lengths of the legs of a right
triangle, and
 c is the length of the hypotenuse.

Right, Acute, or Obtuse Triangle?
In addition to allowing the solution of right triangles, the Pythagorean Formula can be used to
determine whether a triangle is a right triangle, an acute triangle, or an obtuse triangle.
To determine whether a triangle is obtuse, right, or acute:
 Arrange the lengths of the sides from low to high; call them a, b, and c, in increasing order
 Calculate: , , and .
 Compare: vs.
 Use the illustrations below to determine which type of triangle you have.

Obtuse Triangle Right Triangle Acute Triangle

Example: Example: Example:

Triangle with sides: 7, 9, 12 Triangle with sides: 6, 8, 10 Triangle with sides: 5, 8, 9
7 9 . 12 6 8 . 10 5 8 . 9
49 81 144 36 64 100 25 64 81

→ → →

Geometry
Pythagorean Triples

Pythagorean Theorem:

Pythagorean triples are sets of 3 positive integers that meet the requirements of the
Pythagorean Theorem. Because these sets of integers provide “pretty” solutions to geometry
problems, they are a favorite of geometry books and teachers. Knowing what triples exist can
help the student quickly identify solutions to problems that might otherwise take considerable
time to solve.

3‐4‐5 Triangle Family 7‐24‐25 Triangle Family
Sample Sample
Triples Triples
3‐4‐5 7‐24‐25

6‐8‐10 14‐48‐50
9‐12‐15

21‐72‐75
12‐16‐20 . . .
30‐40‐50
70‐240‐250

9 16 25 49 576 625

5‐12‐13 Triangle Family 8‐15‐17 Triangle Family
Sample Sample
Triples Triples

5‐12‐13 8‐15‐17

10‐24‐26 16‐30‐34

15‐36‐39 24‐45‐51

. . . . . .
50‐120‐130 80‐150‐170

25 144 169 64 225 289


Geometry
Special Triangles
The relationship among the lengths of the sides of a triangle is dependent on the measures of
the angles in the triangle. For a right triangle (i.e., one that contains a 90⁰ angle), two special
cases are of particular interest. These are shown below:

45⁰‐45⁰‐90⁰ Triangle
In a 45⁰‐45⁰‐90⁰ triangle, the congruence of two
angles guarantees the congruence of the two
√
legs of the triangle. The proportions of the three
1
sides are: ∶ ∶ √ . That is, the two legs have

the same length and the hypotenuse is √ times
1 as long as either leg.

30⁰‐60⁰‐90⁰ Triangle

In a 30⁰‐60⁰‐90⁰ triangle, the proportions of the
2 three sides are: ∶ √ ∶ . That is, the long leg
√ is √ times as long as the short leg, and the
hypotenuse is times as long as the short leg.

1

In a right triangle, we need to know the lengths of two sides to determine the length of the
third. The power of the relationships in the special triangles lies in the fact that we need only
know the length of one side of the triangle to determine the lengths of the other two sides.
Example Side Lengths
45⁰‐45⁰‐90⁰ Triangle 30⁰‐60⁰‐90⁰ Triangle
∶ ∶ √ ∶ ∶ √ ∶ √ ∶ ∶ √ ∶
√ ∶ √ ∶ √ ∶ √ ∶ √ √ ∶ √ ∶ √ √ ∶ ∶ √
√ ∶ √ ∶ ∶ ∶ √ √ ∶ √ ∶ √ ∶ √ ∶

Geometry
Trig Functions and Special Angles

Trigonometric Functions

SOH‐CAH‐TOA
sin sin sin
cos cos cos
tan tan tan

Special Angles

Trig Functions of Special Angles
Radians Degrees
0 0⁰ √0 √4 √0
0 1 0
2 2 √4
√1 1 √3 √1 √3
6 30⁰
2 2 2 √3 3
√2 √2 √
4 45⁰ √
1
2 2
√3 √1 1 √3
3 60⁰ √3
2 2 2 √1
√4 √0
2 90⁰ 1 0 undefined

2 2


Geometry
Trigonometric Function Values in Quadrants II, III, and IV
In quadrants other than Quadrant I, trigonometric values for angles are calculated in the
following manner:
 Draw the angle θ on the Cartesian Plane.
 Calculate the measure of the angle from the x‐
axis to θ.
 Find the value of the trigonometric function of
the angle in the previous step.
 Assign a “ ” or “ “ sign to the trigonometric
value based on the function used and the
quadrant θ is in.
Examples:
Θ in Quadrant II – Calculate: 180⁰ ∠
For 120⁰, base your work on 180° 120° 60°
√ √
sin 60° , so: °

Θ in Quadrant III – Calculate: ∠ 180⁰

cos 30° √
, so: °
√

Θ in Quadrant IV – Calculate: 360⁰ ∠

tan 45° 1, so: °


Geometry
Graphs of Trigonometric Functions

The sine and cosecant functions are inverses. So:
1 1
sin and csc
csc sin

The cosine and secant functions are inverses. So:
1 1
cos and sec
sec cos

The tangent and cotangent functions are inverses. So:
1 1
tan and cot
cot tan


Geometry
Vectors
Definitions
 A vector is a geometric object that has both
magnitude (length) and direction.
 The Tail of the vector is the end opposite the arrow.
It represents where the vector is moving from.
 The Head of the vector is the end with the arrow. It
represents where the vector is moving to.
 The Zero Vector is denoted 0. It has zero length and
all the properties of zero.
 Two vectors are equal is they have both the same magnitude and the same direction.
 Two vectors are parallel if they have the same or opposite directions. That is, if the angles
of the vectors are the same or 180⁰ different.
 Two vectors are perpendicular if the difference of the angles of the vectors is 90⁰ or 270⁰.
Magnitude of a Vector
The distance formula gives the magnitude of a vector. If the head and tail of vector v are the
points , and , , then the magnitude of v is:
| |
Note that . The directions of the two vectors are opposite, but their magnitudes
are the same.
Direction of a Vector
The direction of a vector is determined by the angle it makes
with a horizontal line. In the figure at right, the direction is the
angle . The value of can be calculated based on the lengths
of the sides of the triangle the vector forms.
or
where the function tan‐1 is the inverse tangent function. The second equation in the line above
reads “ is the angle whose tangent is .”


Geometry
Operations with Vectors
It is possible to operate with vectors in some of the same ways we operate with numbers. In
particular:
Adding Vectors
Vectors can be added in rectangular form by separately adding their x‐ and y‐components. In
general,
〈 , 〉
〈 , 〉
〈 , 〉 〈 , 〉 〈 , 〉
Example: In the figure at right,
〈4, 3〉
〈2, 6〉
〈4, 3〉 〈2, 6〉 〈6, 3〉
Vector Algebra
a∙ a∙ a∙
∙ a b ∙ a∙ b∙
1 ∙ ab ∙ a∙ b∙ b∙ a∙
Scalar Multiplication
Scalar multiplication changes the magnitude of a vector, but not the direction. In general,
〈 , 〉
∙ 〈 ∙ , ∙ 〉
In the figure at right,
〈4, 3〉
2 ∙ 2 ∙ 〈4, 3〉 〈8, 6〉


Chapter 10 Circles
Geometry
Parts of Circles

Center – the middle of the circle. All points on the circle
are the same distance from the center.
Radius – a line segment with one endpoint at the center
and the other endpoint on the circle. The term “radius” is
also used to refer to the distance from the center to the
points on the circle.

Diameter – a line segment with endpoints on the circle
that passes through the center.
Arc – a path along a circle.
Minor Arc – a path along the circle that is less than 180⁰.
Major Arc – a path along the circle that is greater than
180⁰.
Semicircle – a path along a circle that equals 180⁰.
Sector – a region inside a circle that is bounded by two
radii and an arc.
Secant Line – a line that intersects the circle in
exactly two points.

Tangent Line– a line that intersects the circle
in exactly one point.
Chord – a line segment with endpoints on the
circle that does not pass through the center.

Chapter 10 Circles
Geometry
Angles and Circles

Central Angle Inscribed Angle

∠ ∠

Vertex inside the circle Vertex outside the circle

∠ ∠
∙ ∙ ∙ ∙

Tangent on one side Tangents on two sides

∠ ∠
∙


Chapter 11 Perimeter and Area
Geometry
Perimeter and Area of a Triangle
Perimeter of a Triangle
The perimeter of a triangle is simply the sum of the measures of the three sides of the triangle.

Area of a Triangle
There are two formulas for the area of a triangle, depending on what information about the
triangle is available.
Formula 1: The formula most familiar to the student can be used when the base and height of
the triangle are either known or can be determined.

where, is the length of the base of the triangle.
is the height of the triangle.
Note: The base can be any side of the triangle. The height is the measure of the altitude of
whichever side is selected as the base. So, you can use:

or or

Formula 2: Heron’s formula for the area of a triangle can be used when
the lengths of all of the sides are known. Sometimes this formula,
though less appealing, can be very useful.
where, . Note: is sometimes called the semi‐perimeter of the triangle.
, , are the lengths of the sides of the triangle.

ADVANCED
Geometry
More on the Area of a Triangle
Trigonometric Formulas
The following formulas for the area of a triangle come from trigonometry. Which one is used
depends on the information available:
Two angles and a side:
∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙
∙ ∙ ∙
Two sides and an angle:
Coordinate Geometry
If the three vertices of a triangle are displayed in a coordinate plane, the formula below, using a
determinant, will give the area of a triangle.
Let the three points in the coordinate plane be: , , , , , . Then, the area of
the triangle is one half of the absolute value of the determinant below:

∙

Example: For the triangle in the figure at right, the area is:

∙

∙ ∙


Geometry
Perimeter and Area of Quadrilaterals
Name Illustration Perimeter Area

1
Kite 2 2
2

1
Trapezoid
2

Parallelogram 2 2

Rectangle 2 2

1
Rhombus 4
2

1
Square 4
2

Geometry
Perimeter and Area of Regular Polygons
Definitions – Regular Polygons
 The center of a polygon is the center of its circumscribed
circle. Point O is the center of the hexagon at right.
 The radius of the polygon is the radius of its
circumscribed circle. and are both radii of the
hexagon at right.
 The apothem of a polygon is the distance from the center
to the midpoint of any of its sides. a is the apothem of
the hexagon at right.
 The central angle of a polygon is an angle whose vertex is the center of the circle and whose
sides pass through consecutive vertices of the polygon. In the figure above, ∠ is a
central angle of the hexagon.
Area of a Regular Polygon
where, is the apothem of the polygon
is the perimeter of the polygon

Perimeter and Area of Similar Figures
Let k be the scale factor relating two similar geometric figures F1 and F2 such that ∙ .
Then,
and


Geometry
Circle Lengths and Areas
Circumference and Area
∙ is the circumference (i.e., the perimeter) of the circle.
is the area of the circle.
where: is the radius of the circle.
Length of an Arc on a Circle
A common problem in the geometry of circles is to measure the length of an arc on a circle.
Definition: An arc is a segment along the circumference of a circle.
∙
where: ∠AB is the measure (in degrees) of the arc. Note that
this is also the measure of the central angle ∠ .
is the circumference of the circle.
Area of a Sector of a Circle
Another common problem in the geometry of circles is to measure the area of a sector a circle.
Definition: A sector is a region in a circle that is bounded by two radii and an arc of the circle.
∙
where: ∠AB is the measure (in degrees) of the arc. Note that
this is also the measure of the central angle ∠ .
is the area of the circle.

Geometry
Area of Composite Figures
To calculate the area of a figure that is a composite of shapes, consider each shape separately.
Example 1:
Calculate the area of the blue region in the figure to the right.
To solve this:
 Recognize that the figure is the composite of a
rectangle and two triangles.
 Disassemble the composite figure into its components.
 Calculate the area of the components.
 Subtract to get the area of the composite figure.

∙ ∙ ∙
Example 2:
Calculate the area of the blue region in the figure to the right.
To solve this:
 Recognize that the figure is the composite of a square and a
circle.
 Disassemble the composite figure into its components.
 Calculate the area of the components.
 Subtract to get the area of the composite figure.

∙ ~ .

Chapter 12 Surface Area and Volume
Geometry
Polyhedra
Definitions
Faces
 A Polyhedron is a 3‐dimensional solid bounded by a series
of polygons.
 Faces are the polygons that bound the polyhedron.
 An Edge is the line segment at the intersection of two faces.
 A Vertex is a point at the intersection of two edges. Edges
 A Regular polyhedron is one in which all of the faces are the
Vertices
same regular polygon.
 A Convex Polyhedron is one in which all diagonals are contained within the interior of the
polyhedron. A Concave polyhedron is one that is not convex.
 A Cross Section is the intersection of a plane with the polyhedron.
Euler’s Theorem
Let: the number of faces of a polyhedron. Euler’s Theorem Example:
the number of vertices of a polyhedron. The cube above has …
the number of edges of a polyhedron.  6 faces
 8 vertices
Then, for any polyhedron that does not intersect itself,
 12 edges



Calculating the Number of Edges
The number of edges of a polyhedron is one‐half the number of sides in the polygons it
comprises. Each side that is counted in this way is shared by two polygons; simply adding all
the sides of the polygons, therefore, double counts the number of edges on the polyhedron.
Example: Consider a soccer ball. It is polyhedron made up of 20
hexagons and 12 pentagons. Then the number of edges is:
∙ ∙ ∙

ADVANCED
Geometry
A Hole in Euler’s Theorem
Topology is a branch of mathematics that studies the properties of objects that are preserved
through manipulation that does not include tearing. An object may be stretched, twisted and
otherwise deformed, but not torn. In this branch of mathematics, a donut is equivalent to a
coffee cup because both have one hole; you can deform either the cup or the donut and create
the other, like you are playing with clay.
All of the usual polyhedra have no holes in them, so Euler’s Equation holds. What happens if
we allow the polyhedra to have holes in them? That is, what if we consider topological shapes
different from the ones we normally consider?
Euler’s Characteristic
When Euler’s Equation is rewritten as , the left hand side of the equation is
called the Euler Characteristic.

The Euler Characteristic of a shape is:

Generalized Euler’s Theorem
Let: the number of faces of a polyhedron.
the number of vertices of a polyhedron.
the number of edges of a polyhedron.
the number of holes in the polyhedron. is
called the genus of the shape.
Then, for any polyhedron that does not intersect itself,
Example:
The cube with a tunnel in it has …
16
32
Note that the value of Euler’s Characteristic can be 16
negative if the shape has more than one hole in it (i.e., if so,
2)!


Geometry
Platonic Solids
A Platonic Solid is a convex regular polyhedron with faces composed of congruent convex
regular polygons. There five of them:
Key Properties of Platonic Solids
It is interesting to look at the key properties of these regular polyhedra.
Name Faces Vertices Edges Type of Face

Tetrahedron 4 4 6 Triangle
Cube 6 8 12 Square
Octahedron 8 6 12 Triangle
Dodecahedron 12 20 30 Pentagon
Icosahedron 20 12 30 Triangle
Notice the following patterns in the table:
 All of the numbers of faces are even. Only the cube has a number of faces that is not a
multiple of 4.
 All of the numbers of vertices are even. Only the octahedron has a number of faces that
is not a multiple of 4.
 The number of faces and vertices seem to alternate (e.g., cube 6‐8 vs. octahedron 8‐6).
 All of the numbers of edges are multiples of 6.
 There are only three possibilities for the numbers of edges – 6, 12 and 30.
 The faces are one of: regular triangles, squares or regular pentagons.


Geometry
Prisms
Definitions
 A Prism is a polyhedron with two congruent polygonal faces
that lie in parallel planes.
 The Bases are the parallel polygonal faces.
 The Lateral Faces are the faces that are not bases.
 The Lateral Edges are the edges between the lateral faces.
 The Slant Height is the length of a lateral edge. Note that
all lateral edges are the same length.
 The Height is the perpendicular length between the bases.
 A Right Prism is one in which the angles between the bases and the
lateral edges are right angles. Note that in a right prism, the height and
the slant height are the same.
 An Oblique Prism is one that is not a right prism.
Right Hexagonal
 The Surface Area of a prism is the sum of the areas of all its faces. Prism
 The Lateral Area of a prism is the sum of the areas of its lateral faces.
Surface Area and Volume of a Right Prism
Surface Area: where,

Lateral SA:

Volume:
Cavalieri’s Principle
If two solids have the same height and the same cross‐sectional area at every level, then they
have the same volume. This principle allows us to derive a formula for the volume of an
oblique prism from the formula for the volume of a right prism.
Surface Area and Volume of an Oblique Prism

Volume:

The lateral surface area of an oblique prism is the sum of the

areas of the faces, which must be calculated individually.

Geometry
Cylinders
Definitions
 A Cylinder is a figure with two congruent circular bases in parallel planes.
 The Axis of a cylinder is the line connecting the centers of the circular bases.
 A cylinder has only one Lateral Surface. When deconstructed, the lateral surface of a
cylinder is a rectangle with length equal to the circumference of the base.
 There are no Lateral Edges in a cylinder.
 The Slant Height is the length of the lateral side between the bases. Note
that all lateral distances are the same length. The slant height has
applicability only if the cylinder is oblique.
 The Height is the perpendicular length between the bases.
 A Right Cylinder is one in which the angles between the bases and the lateral side are right
angles. Note that in a right cylinder, the height and the slant height are the same.
 An Oblique Cylinder is one that is not a right cylinder.
 The Surface Area of a cylinder is the sum of the areas of its bases and its lateral surface.
 The Lateral Area of a cylinder is the areas of its lateral surface.
Surface Area and Volume of a Right Cylinder

Lateral SA:

Volume:
Surface Area and Volume of an Oblique Cylinder
right section*

Volume:

* A right section of an oblique cylinder is
a cross section perpendicular to the axis
of the cylinder.


Geometry
Surface Area by Decomposition
Sometimes the student is asked to calculate the surface are of a prism that does not quite fit
into one of the categories for which an easy formula exists. In this case, the answer may be to
decompose the prism into its component shapes, and then calculate the areas of the
components. Note: this process also works with cylinders and pyramids.
Decomposition of a Prism
To calculate the surface area of a prism, decompose it and look at each of the prism’s faces
individually.
Example: Calculate the surface area of the triangular prism at right.
To do this, first notice that we need the value of the hypotenuse of the
base. Use the Pythagorean Theorem or Pythagorean Triples to
determine the missing value is 10. Then, decompose the figure into its
various faces:

The surface area, then, is calculated as:
2
1
2∙ ∙6∙8 10 ∙ 7 8∙7 6∙7 216
2
Decomposition of a Right Cylinder
The cylinder at right is
decomposed into two circles (the

bases) and a rectangle (the lateral
face).
The surface area, then, is calculated as:
2
2 ∙ ∙3 6 ∙5 48 ~ 150.80

Geometry
Pyramids
Pyramids
 A Pyramid is a polyhedron in which the base is a polygon and
the lateral sides are triangles with a common vertex.
 The Base is a polygon of any size or shape.
 The Lateral Faces are the faces that are not the base.
 The Lateral Edges are the edges between the lateral faces.
 The Apex of the pyramid is the intersection of the lateral
edges. It is the point at the top of the pyramid.
 The Slant Height of a regular pyramid is the altitude of one of
the lateral faces.
 The Height is the perpendicular length between the base and the apex.
 A Regular Pyramid is one in which the lateral faces are congruent triangles. The height of a
regular pyramid intersects the base at its center.
 An Oblique Pyramid is one that is not a right pyramid. That is, the
apex is not aligned directly above the center of the base.
 The Surface Area of a pyramid is the sum of the areas of all its
faces.
 The Lateral Area of a pyramid is the sum of the areas of its lateral
faces.
Surface Area and Volume of a Regular Pyramid
where,
Surface Area:

Lateral SA:

Volume:
Surface Area and Volume of an Oblique Pyramid
where,
Surface Area:

Volume:

The lateral surface area of an oblique pyramid is the sum of
the areas of the faces, which must be calculated individually.

Geometry
Cones
Definitions
 A Circular Cone is a 3‐dimensional geometric figure with a circular base which tapers
smoothly to a vertex (or apex). The apex and base are in different planes. Note: there is
also an elliptical cone that has an ellipse as a base, but that will not be considered here.
 The Base is a circle.
 The Lateral Surface is area of the figure between the base and the apex.
 There are no Lateral Edges in a cone.
 The Apex of the cone is the point at the top of the cone.
 The Slant Height of a cone is the length along the lateral surface from the apex to the base.
 The Height is the perpendicular length between the base and the apex.
 A Right Cone is one in which the height of the cone intersects the base at
its center.
 An Oblique Cone is one that is not a right cone. That is, the apex is not
aligned directly above the center of the base.
 The Surface Area of a cone is the sum of the area of its lateral surface
and its base.
 The Lateral Area of a cone is the area of its lateral surface.
Surface Area and Volume of a Right Cone

Lateral SA:

Volume:
Surface Area and Volume of an Oblique Cone

Volume:
There is no easy formula for the lateral surface area of an
oblique cone.


Geometry
Spheres
Definitions
 A Sphere is a 3‐dimensional geometric figure in which all
points are a fixed distance from a point. A good example of
a sphere is a ball.
 Center – the middle of the sphere. All points on the sphere
are the same distance from the center.
 Radius – a line segment with one endpoint at the center and
the other endpoint on the sphere. The term “radius” is also
used to refer to the distance from the center to the points
on the sphere.
 Diameter – a line segment with endpoints on the sphere
 Great Circle – the intersection of a plane and a sphere
 Hemisphere – half of a sphere. A great circle separates a
plane into two hemispheres.
 Secant Line – a line that intersects the sphere in exactly
two points.
 Tangent Line– a line that intersects the sphere in exactly
one point.
 Chord – a line segment with endpoints on the sphere that does not pass through the center.
Surface Area and Volume of a Sphere
Surface Area:
Volume:
where,

Geometry
Similar Solids
Similar Solids have equal ratios of corresponding linear measurements (e.g., edges, radii). So,
all of their key dimensions are proportional.

Edges, Surface Area and Volume of Similar Figures
Let k be the scale factor relating two similar geometric solids F1 and F2 such that ∙ .
Then, for corresponding parts of F1 and F2,

and

And

These formulas hold true for any corresponding portion of the
figures. So, for example:

k k


Geometry
Summary of Perimeter and Area Formulas – 2D Shapes
Shape Figure Perimeter Area

Kite
,
,

Trapezoid ,
, b ,b bases
h height

Parallelogram
,

Rectangle
,

Rhombus
,

Square
,
∙
Regular Polygon

Circle

Ellipse


Geometry
Summary of Surface Area and Volume Formulas – 3D Shapes
Shape Figure Surface Area Volume

Sphere

Right

Cylinder

Cone

Square
Pyramid

∙
Rectangular
Prism

Cube

General

Right Prism


Geometry Handbook
Index
Page Subject
16 Alternate Exterior Angles
16 Alternate Interior Angles
23 Angle Bisector Length in a Triangle
Angles
10 Angles ‐ Basic
11 Angles ‐ Types
Area
65 Area ‐ Composite Figures
63 Area ‐ Polygons
62 Area ‐ Quadrilaterals
64 Area ‐ Region of a Circle
60, 61 Area ‐ Triangle
76 Area Formulas ‐ Summary for 2D Shapes
69 Cavalieri's Principle
Centers of Triangles
22 Centroid
22 Circumcenter
22 Incenter
22 Orthocenter
22 Centroid
Circles
64 Circles ‐ Arc Lengths
58 Circles ‐ Definitions of Parts
64 Circles ‐ Region Areas
59 Circles ‐ Related Angles
59 Circles ‐ Related Segments
22 Circles and Triangles
22 Circumcenter
12 Conditional Statements (Original, Converse, Inverse, Contrapositive)
Cones
73 Cones ‐ Definitions
73 Cones ‐ Surface Area and Volume
21 Congruent Triangles
12 Contrapositive of a Statement
12 Converse of a Statement
16 Corresponding Angles
55 Cosecant Function

Geometry Handbook
Index
Page Subject
53 ‐ 55 Cosine Function
55 Cotangent Function
68 Cube (Hexahedron)
Cylinders
70 Cylinders ‐ Definitions
70 Cylinders ‐ Surface Area and Volume
Distance Formula
8 Distance Formula ‐ 1‐Dimensional and 2‐Dimensional)
9 Distance Formula in “n” Dimensions
68 Dodecahedron
20 Equilateral Triangle
66, 67 Euler’s Theorem
23 Height Length in a Triangle
60 Heron's Formula ‐ Area of a Triangle
68 Icosahedron
22 Incenter
12 Inverse of a Statement
20 Isosceles Triangle
32 Kites
6, 7 Line
Logic
12 Contrapositive of a Statement
12 Converse of a Statement
12 Inverse of a Statement
23 Median ‐ Length in a Triangle
68 Octahedron
22 Orthocenter
Parallel Lines
16, 17 Parallel Lines and Transversals
19 Parallel Lines in the Coordinate Plane
Parallelograms
30 Parallelograms ‐ Characteristics
31 Parallelograms ‐ Proofs (Sufficient Conditions)
Perimeter
64 Perimeter ‐ Arc Length of a Circle
63 Perimeter ‐ Polygons
62 Perimeter ‐ Quadrilaterals

Geometry Handbook
Index
Page Subject
60 Perimeter ‐ Triangle
76 Perimeter Formulas ‐ Summary for 2D Shapes
19 Perpendicular Lines in the Coordinate Plane
6 Plane
68 Platonic Solids
6 Points
Polygons
25, 26 Polygons ‐ Definitions
45, 46 Polygons ‐ Dilation
45, 46 Polygons ‐ Dilations of Polygons
27 Polygons ‐ Exterior Angles
27 Polygons ‐ Interior Angles
25 Polygons ‐ Names
26 Polygons ‐ Number of Diagonals in a Polygon
63 Polygons ‐ Perimeter and Area
44 Polygons ‐ Scale Factor of Similar Polygons
43 Polygons ‐ Similarity
Polyhedra
66 Polyhedra ‐ Definitions
66, 67 Polyhedra ‐ Euler's Theorem
66 Polyhedra ‐ Number of Edges
Prisms
69 Prisms ‐ Definitions
69 Prisms ‐ Surface Area and Volume
Proofs
18 Proofs ‐ Parallel Lines
31 Proofs ‐ Parallelograms
15 Proofs ‐ Requirements
15 Proofs ‐ Tips for Success
Properties
13 Properties of Addition and Multiplication
13 Properties of Algebra
13 Properties of Equality and Congruence
Pyramids
72 Pyramids ‐ Definitions
72 Pyramids ‐ Surface Area and Volume
50 Pythagorean Theorem

Geometry Handbook
Index
Page Subject
51 Pythagorean Triples
Quadrilaterals
29 Quadrilaterals ‐ Characteristics
28 Quadrilaterals ‐ Definitions
29 Quadrilaterals ‐ Figures
62 Quadrilaterals ‐ Perimeter and Area
42 Ratios ‐ Dealing with Units
6, 7 Ray
14 Reasoning ‐ Inductive vs. Deductive
20 Right Triangle
20 Scalene Triangle
55 Secant Function
6, 7 Segment
Similarity
43 ‐ 46 Similar Polygons
47 ‐ 49 Similar Triangles
75 Similarity ‐ Solids
53 ‐ 55 Sine Function
75 Solids ‐ Similarity
Sphere
74 Spheres ‐ Definitions
74 Spheres ‐ Surface Area and Volume
Surface Area
73 Surface Area ‐ Cones
70 Surface Area ‐ Cylinders
69 Surface Area ‐ Prisms
72 Surface Area ‐ Pyramids
74 Surface Area ‐ Spheres
71 Surface Area ‐ Using Decomposition
77 Surface Area Formulas ‐ Summary for 3D Shapes
53 ‐ 55 Tangent Function
68 Tetrahedron
Transformation
41 Transformation ‐ Composition
33 Transformation ‐ Definitions
33 Transformation ‐ Isometric
35 Transformation ‐ Reflection

Geometry Handbook
Index
Page Subject
36 Transformation ‐ Rotation
37 Transformation ‐ Rotation by 90⁰ about a Point (x0, y0)
40 Transformation ‐ Translation
32 Trapezoids
Triangles
22 Centers of Triangles
21 Triangle Congruence (SAS, SSS, ASA, AAS, CPCTC)
24 Triangle Inequalities
47 Triangle Similarity (SSS, SAS, AA)
20 Triangles ‐ General
60, 61 Triangles ‐ Perimeter and Area
48 Triangles ‐ Proportion Tables for Similar Triangles
52 Triangles ‐ Special (45⁰‐45⁰‐90⁰ Triangle, 30⁰‐60⁰‐90⁰ Triangle)
49 Triangles ‐ Three Similar Triangles
Trigonometric Functions
55 Cosecant Function
53 ‐ 55 Cosine Function
55 Cotangent Function
55 Secant Function
53 ‐ 55 Sine Function
53 ‐ 55 Tangent Function
53 Trigonometric Functions ‐ Definition
55 Trigonometric Functions ‐ Graphs
53 Trigonometric Functions ‐ Special Angles
54 Trigonometric Functions ‐ Values in Quadrants II, III, and IV
Vectors
56 Vectors ‐ Definitions
56 Vectors ‐ Direction
56 Vectors ‐ Magnitude
57 Vectors ‐ Operations
Volume
73 Volume ‐ Cones
70 Volume ‐ Cylinders
69 Volume ‐ Prisms
72 Volume ‐ Pyramids
74 Volume ‐ Spheres
77 Volume Formulas ‐ Summary for 3D Shapes

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Item Illustration Notation Definition

Point A location in space.

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Inverse Statement: If not p, then not q. (~ → ~ )

Contrapositive Statement: If not q, then not p. (~ → ~ )

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If , then either can be If ≅ , then either can be

Property Definition for Addition Definition for Multiplication

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Example: Observe that the sum of the numbers 1 to 4 is 4 ∙ 5/2 and that the sum of the

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 Also, if one line is vertical (i.e., is undefined) and one line is horizontal (i.e., 0).

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Number Number Names of polygons

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Kite Parallelogram Trapezoid

Rectangle Rhombus Isosceles

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Transformation Reflection Rotation Translation

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Pre‐Image Mirror Image

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Pre‐Image Clockwise Counterclockwise Image

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 If you multiply, you get: 32 ∙ 48 1,536 . This is clearly wrong!

 If you divide, you get: 32 48 ∙ . Now,

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Example: In the above similar polygons, if 20, 12, 6, ?

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Example: In the above similar polygons, if 20, 12, 6, ?

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