AA postulate AA postulate In Euclidean geometry, the AA postulate states that two triangles are similar if they have two corresponding angles congruent. The AA postulate follows from the fact that the sum of the interior angles of a triangle is always equal to 180°. By knowing two angles, such as 32° and 64° degrees, we know that the next angle is 84°, because 180-(32+64)=84. (This is sometimes referred to as the AAA Postulate—which is true in all respects, but two angles are entirely sufficient.) The postulate can be better understood by working in reverse order. The two triangles on grids A
Triangle inequality angles satisfy: Therefore, and so, in particular, That means side opposite angle is shorter than side opposite the larger angle . But . Hence: A similar construction shows , establishing the theorem. An alternative proof (also based upon the triangle postulate) proceeds by considering three positions for point : (i) as depicted (which is to be proven), or (ii) coincident with (which would mean the isosceles triangle had two right angles as base angles plus the vertex angle , which would violate the triangle postulate), or lastly, (iii) interior to the right triangle between points and (in which case angle