when two angles of a triangle are equal, so are the subtended sides
I.6
If in a triangle two angles be equal to one another, the sides which subtend the equal angles will also be equal to one another.
—Euclid
Let ABC be a triangle having the angle ABC equal to the angle ACB;
I say that the side AB is also equal to the side AC.
For, if AB is unequal to AC, one of them is greater.
Let AB be greater; and from AB the greater let DB be cut off equal to AC the less;
let DC be joined.
Then, since DB is equal to AC, and BC is common,
the two sides DB, BC are equal to the two sides AC, CB respectively;
and the angle DBC is equal to the angle ACB;
therefore the base DC is equal to the base AB, and the triangle DBC will be equal to the triangle ACB, the less to the greater: which is absurd. Therefore AB is not unequal to AC; it is therefore equal to it.
Therefore etc.