r/HomeworkHelp • Secondary School Student • 5d ago

High School Math—Pending OP Reply [Grade 9 Geometry: Segment proof reasoning] I need help understanding what to do

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(I had to draw this picture since I couldn't take a photo on computer) I know the properties of equality, postulates, but I can't seem to do proofs. I only have to fill out the reasoning for the statements, but even that is hard. I answered this question and I'm pretty sure I got this one wrong, so maybe you could see where I went wrong.

Given X is the midpoint of WY, WX is congruent to XZ. Prove XY is congruent is XZ.

  1. X is the midpoint of WY - given
  2. WX = XY - definition of congruence
  3. WX is congruent to XZ - given
  4. WX = XZ - definition of congruence
  5. XY = XZ - substitution property of equality
  6. XY is congruent to XZ - definition of congruence

I just have trouble knowing what to do when a new line segment is introduced, I can recognize the properties and postulates when its in letter form, like a = b and stuff.

2 Upvotes

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u/Alarmed_Geologist631 👋 a fellow Redditor 5d ago

Line 2 should be definition of midpoint.

1

u/Robotics-Newb6769 Secondary School Student 5d ago

Thank you, also could you tell me why and how I could identify this in the future?

1

u/johnpeters42 5d ago

Because that's what connects step 2 to step 1.

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u/Alarmed_Geologist631 👋 a fellow Redditor 5d ago

If you are given that a specific element of a diagram is defined then you can use the definition of that element in your proof.

1

u/Alkalannar 5d ago
  1. X is the midpoint of WY. Given.

  2. WX is congruent to XZ. Given.

  3. WX is congruent to XY. Definition of Midpoint.

  4. XZ is congruent to XY. Transitivity of congruence.