What does it mean for figures to be congruent?

For figures to be congruent means that they have the same shape and size. This definition encompasses all aspects of the figures, including corresponding angles and corresponding sides being equal. When two figures are congruent, they can be perfectly superimposed over one another, meaning one can be transformed into the other through rigid motions such as rotations, translations, or reflections.

This concept is fundamental in geometry as it establishes a clear relationship between geometrical shapes that possess identical properties. Understanding congruence is essential for proving various geometric theorems and for solving problems that involve comparing different figures.

The other options do not accurately describe congruence: similarity involves figures having the same shape but possibly different sizes; having the same area with different dimensions does not ensure congruence; and stating that figures are completely different contradicts the definition of congruence altogether.