What Does Congruent Mean In Math Terms

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

What does congruent mean in math terms.

It does not mean that they are equal exactly. Exactly equal in size and shape. Equal should be used to relate the lengths or measurements of two sides angles or parts of shapes. Illustrated definition of congruent.

Congruent means that objects have the same shape. While the size and shape of two congruent objects are equal their orientations may be different. Congruent segments sides and angles are often marked. Anyway it comes from latin congruere to agree so the shapes agree.

In this example the shapes are congruent. Two objects are congruent if they have the same dimensions and shape. More formally two sets of points are called congruent if and only if one can be transformed into the other by an isometry i e a combination of rigid motions namely a translation a rotation and a reflection. The ability to recognize congruence is important in geometry and other fields that rely on this type of math.

Very loosely you can think of it as meaning equal but it has a very precise meaning that you should understand completely especially for complex shapes such as polygons. Maybe because they are only equal when placed on top of each other. Why such a funny word that basically means equal. Definition and meaning of the math word congruent.

The same shape and size but we are allowed to flip slide or turn. If we call our squares square a and square b we can write that they are congruent using the congruency symbol which is an equal sign. Congruent sides or segments have the exact same length. In math we have a special symbol to show congruency.

In geometry two figures or objects are congruent if they have the same shape and size or if one has the same shape and size as the mirror image of the other.