Let's prove that the sum of angles in a triangle is 180 degrees.
Step 1: Consider a triangle ABC.
Let the angles of the triangle be ∠A, ∠B, and ∠C.
Step 2: Draw a line parallel to one side.
Draw a line XY passing through vertex A such that XY is parallel to the side BC.
X-------A-------Y
/ \ / \
/ \ / \
B-----C
Step 3: Identify alternate interior angles.
Since XY is parallel to BC, and AB is a transversal line:
The angle ∠XAB is an alternate interior angle to ∠ABC (which is ∠B).
Therefore, ∠XAB = ∠B.
Similarly, since XY is parallel to BC, and AC is a transversal line:
The angle ∠YAC is an alternate interior angle to ∠ACB (which is ∠C).
Therefore, ∠YAC = ∠C.
Step 4: Sum the angles on the straight line.
The angles on the straight line XY at point A are ∠XAB, ∠BAC (which is ∠A), and ∠YAC.
The sum of angles on a straight line is 180 degrees.
So, ∠XAB + ∠BAC + ∠YAC = 180°.
Step 5: Substitute and conclude.
Substitute the equalities from Step 3 into the equation from Step 4:
∠B + ∠A + ∠C = 180°.
Thus, the sum of the interior angles of a triangle is 180 degrees.