# Two Straight Lines make Equal Opposite Angles

(Redirected from Vertical Angle Theorem)

## Theorem

In the words of Euclid:

If two straight lines cut one another, they make the vertical angles equal to one another.

### Porism

It follows that if two straight lines cut one another, the angles at the point of intersection make four right angles.

## Proof

Let $AB$ and $CD$ be two straight lines that cut each other at the point $E$.

Since the straight line $AE$ stands on the straight line $CD$, the angles $\angle AED$ and $\angle AEC$ make two right angles.

Since the straight line $DE$ stands on the straight line $AB$, the angles $\angle AED$ and $\angle BED$ make two right angles.

But $\angle AED$ and $\angle AEC$ also make two right angles.

So by Common Notion 1 and the fact that all right angles are congruent, $\angle AED + \angle AEC = \angle AED + \angle BED$.

Let $\angle AED$ be subtracted from each.

Then by Common Notion 3 it follows that $\angle AEC = \angle BED$.

Similarly it can be shown that $\angle BEC = \angle AED$.

$\blacksquare$

## Also known as

This result is also called the vertical angle theorem.

The arises from the fact that the angles proven equal are known as vertical angles.

## Historical Note

This theorem is Proposition $15$ of Book $\text{I}$ of Euclid's The Elements.
It appears to have originally been created by Thales of Miletus.