Equiangular Triangles are Similar
Theorem
Let two triangles have the same corresponding angles.
Then their corresponding sides are proportional.
Thus, by definition, such triangles are similar.
As Euclid defined it:
- In equiangular triangles the sides about the equal angles are proportional, and those are corresponding sides which subtend the equal angles.
(The Elements: Book VI: Proposition $4$)
Proof
Let $\triangle ABC, \triangle DCE$ be equiangular triangles such that:
- $\angle ABC = \angle DCE$
- $\angle BAC = \angle CDE$
- $\angle ACB = \angle CED$
Let $BC$ be placed in a straight line with $CE$.
From Two Angles of Triangle Less than Two Right Angles $\angle ABC + \angle ACB$ is less than two right angles.
As $\angle ACB = \angle DEC$, it follows that $\angle ABC + \angle DEC$ is also less than two right angles.
So from the Parallel Postulate, $BA$ and $ED$, when produced, will meet.
Let this happen at $F$.
We have that $\angle ABC = \angle DCE$.
So from Equal Corresponding Angles Implies Parallel, $BF \parallel CD$.
Again, we have that $\angle ACB = \angle CED$.
Again from Equal Corresponding Angles Implies Parallel, $AC \parallel FE$.
Therefore by definition $\Box FACD$ is a parallelogram.
Therefore from Opposite Sides and Angles of Parallelogram are Equal $FA = DC$ and $AC = FD$.
Since $AC \parallel FE$, it follows from Parallel Line in Triangle Cuts Sides Proportionally that $BA : AF = BC : CE$.
But $AF = CD$ so $BA : AF = BC : CE$.
From Proportional Magnitudes are Proportional Alternately, $AB : BC = DC : CE$.
Since $CD \parallel BF$, from Parallel Line in Triangle Cuts Sides Proportionally $BC : CE = FD : DE$.
But $FD = AC$ so $BC : CE = AC : DE$.
So from Proportional Magnitudes are Proportional Alternately, $BC : CA = CE : ED$.
It then follows from Equality of Ratios Ex Aequali that $BA : AC = CD : DE$.
$\blacksquare$
Historical Note
This is Proposition 4 of Book VI of Euclid's The Elements.