Final answer:
Using the properties of a parallelogram and the properties of congruent triangles, the diagonals of a parallelogram are congruent, then the parallelogram is a rectangle.
Step-by-step explanation:
To prove that the diagonals of a parallelogram are congruent, the proof involves:
- Start with a parallelogram ABCD.
- Draw diagonals AC and BD, which intersect at point E.
- Using the properties of a parallelogram, we know that opposite sides are congruent and parallel. Therefore, AB is congruent to DC and AD is congruent to BC.
- Using the properties of congruent triangles, we can prove that triangle ABE is congruent to triangle CDE and triangle ADE is congruent to triangle CBE.
- When two triangles are congruent, their corresponding sides are congruent.
- Therefore, AE is congruent to CE and BE is congruent to DE.
- Since the diagonals AC and BD intersect at point E and their corresponding sides are congruent, the diagonals of the parallelogram are congruent.
Therefore, if the diagonals of a parallelogram are congruent, then the parallelogram is a rectangle.