How to write a congruence statement for polygons

Definition: Polygons are congruent when they have the same number of sides, and all corresponding sides and interior angles are congruent. The polygons will have the same shape and size, but one may be a rotated, or be the mirror image of the other.


Note: This entry deals with the congruence of polygons in general. Congruent triangles are discussed in more depth in Congruent Triangles.

One way to think about this is to imagine the polygons are made of cardboard. If you can move them, turn them over and stack them exactly on top of each other, then they are congruent. To see this, click on any polygon below. It will be flipped over, rotated and stacked on another as needed to demonstrate that they are congruent.

Try this Click on 'Next' or 'Run'. Each polygon in turn will be flipped over, rotated and stacked on another as needed to show that it is congruent to it.

Mathematically speaking, each operation being done on the polygons is one of three types:

Rotation

Reflection

Translation

Testing for Congruence

There are four ways to test for congruence of polygons, depending on what you are given to start. See Testing Polygons for congruence. The three types of operation above are called 'transforms'. In effect, they transform a shape to another by changing it in some way - rotation, reflection and translation.

What does this mean?

If you have shown that two polygons are congruent, then you know that every property of the polygons is also identical. For example they will have the same area, perimeter, exterior angles, apothem etc.

Other congruence topics

Congruent Triangles