In this chapter we will attempt to prove if the angle bisectors of triangle are concurrent.
To understand the chapter, you should have basic knowledge of triangle and congruency theorem.
Before moving on towards the main content, let us revise the basics first.
Basics of angle bisectors
What are angle bisectors ?
The line segment which divide the angle into two equal parts are called angle bisector.
In the above triangle ABC, line BO is the angle bisector since it divides ∠B into two equal halves.
How many angle bisectors in a triangle ?
Since there are three angles in a triangle, there can only be three angle bisectors in the triangle.
What do you understand by term ” Concurrent ” ?
In geometry, concurrent means that the line intersect at common point.
In the above figure, line A, B, C & D are concurrent since they intersect at common point O.
Proving angle bisectors of triangle are concurrent
Consider the below triangle ABC in which line OA and OB are the angle bisectors.
To prove that angle bisectors are concurrent, we have to prove that the third line (OC) intersecting the point o is also an angle bisector line.
Given:
ABC is a triangle.
OA & OB are the angle bisector lines.
∠OBC = ∠ OBA
∠OAB = ∠ OAC
To prove:
∠OCB = ∠ OCA
Construction:
Draw perpendicular lines OM, ON and OP
Proof
Consider ▵OPB and ▵OMB
OB = BO { common side }
∠OBP = ∠ OBM { given }
∠OPB = ∠ OMB { 90 degree }
By AAS congruency, both the triangles are congruent.
i.e. \mathtt{\triangle OPB\ \cong \triangle OMB}
Since both triangle are congruent we can write OM = OP.
Similarly consider ▵OAP and ▵OAN
Again by AAS congruency we can say OP = ON
Similarly consider ▵OCM and ▵OCN.
Again by AAS congruency, we can write OM = ON.
On combining all the expressions we get OM = ON = OP.
Now consider triangle OCM and OCN.
OC = CO { common side }
OM = ON { proved above }
∠OMC = ∠ ONC { 90 degree }
By RHS congruency we can say that both triangles are congruent.
i.e. \mathtt{\triangle OCM\ \cong \triangle OCN}
Since both triangles are congruent, we can say that ∠OCM = ∠ OCN.
This means that ∠C is bisected by segment OC and OC is the angle bisector.
Hence we proved that OC is the angle bisector and all the angle bisector intersect at common point O
Next chapter : Prove that side opposite to equal angles are equal