SIMILARITY IN RIGHT TRIANGLES

Identifying Proportions in a Right Triangle

A. PROPORTION IN A RIGHT TRIANGLE THEOREM

If The altitude or height is drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle

then:

a. The triangles formed to the hypotenuse are similar to the given

triangle and similar to each other.

b. The length of the altitude or height is the GEOMETRIC MEAN

between the lengths of two segments of the hypotenuse.

B. THE PYTHAGOREAN
c. The length of each leg of the given triangle is the GEOMETRIC THEOREM
In a right triangle, the square of the
MEAN between the length of the hypotenuse and the length of
hypotenuse (longest side) is equal to
the segment of the hypotenuse adjacent to the leg. c
the sum of the squares of the legs. a
hyp2 = leg2 + leg2 c2 = a2 + b2
b

EXAMPLES:

1. Given rt. ⊿ BCA , determine each.

a. Similar triangles
b. Altitude Rule
c. Leg Rule Ex. 2: Is a triangle with sides 7, 24, and 25 a right triangle?
Solution: By using the Pythagorean Theorem
c 2 = a 2 + b2 252 = 72 + 242
625 = 49 + 576
625 = 625
Therefore, a triangle with sides 7, 24, 25 is a right triangle.

REMEMBER:
If a < b<c are the lengths of the sides of a triangle and
a2 + b2 = c2, then the triangle is a RIGHT triangle
a2 + b2 < c2, then the triangle is an OBTUSE triangle
a2 + b2 > c2, then the triangle is and ACUTE triangle

Practice Activity 1
PRACTICE ACTIVITY 2

Answer the following. Solve for the value of x.

 1
hyp √ 2
2

1
x= hyp √ 2
2
1
x= (10√ 2 ¿( √ 2)
2
1 1
= (10√ 4 ¿= (10¿(2)
B. Determine whether a triangle with sides of the given lengths is 2 2
acute, right or obtuse. PRACTICE ACTIVITY 3

1. 11, 112, 15 4. 8, 14, 17

2. 15, 20, 25 5. 33, 44, 55

3. 9, 12, 15

C. SPECIAL RIGHT TRIANGLE RELATIONSHIPS

The 300 - 600 - 900 RIGTH TRIANGLE THEOREM

1. In a 300 - 600 - 900, the leg opposite the

300 angle is equal to one-half the length
of the hypotenuse.

2. In a 300 - 600 - 900, the leg 1 hyp

hyp √ 3
opposite the 600 angle is equal to 2
one-half the length of the hypotenuse
√
times 3. 1
hyp
2

Read carefully and solve.

1. Find the measure of the sides of a rhombus whose lengths of the

diagonals are 12 and 16.
2. The diagonal of the square chess table is 10 cm. What is the length
of each side?

RATIOS OF AREAS AND PERIMETER OF SIMILAR

POLYGON

If two polygons are similar, then;

- the ratio of their perimeters equals the ratio of the lengths of any
pair of corresponding segments.

Perimeter 1 side 1
=
Perimeter 2 side 2
- the ratio of their areas equals the square of the ratio of the lengths of
any pair of corresponding segments.
2
Area 1 (side 1)
=
Area 2 ¿¿

Examples:
The 450 - 450 - 900 RIGTH TRIANGLE THEOREM
1. The areas of two similar triangles are 64m and 100m,
1. In a 450 - 450 - 900, the leg opposite the respectively. If the length of a side of the first is 16m, what
450 angle is equal to one-half the is the length of the corresponding side of the second?
length of the hypotenuse times √ 2.
hyp 1
hyp √ 2
2
 6. The sides of a triangle are in the ratio of 2:3:4. If the
perimeter is 72 cm, find each side of the triangle?

2. The areas of two similar polygons are 64 and 100

respectively, and the length of a side of the first is 6. Find
the length of the corresponding side of the of the second.

7. A 41-foot ladder is leaning against a vertical wall. If the

foot of the ladder rests at 9 feet away from the base of the
wall, how high up does the ladder reach?

3. Two polygons are similar. The area of the first polygon is

jjj208 cm2 and one of its sides is 12 cm. If the
corresponding side of the second polygon is 16cm,
determine the area of the larger polygon.

8. The lengths of the sides of a polygon are 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Find the lengths of the sides of the similar polygon if its
perimeter is 50.

4. Two triangles are similar. The sides of the smaller triangle

are 8, 16, and 20. If the perimeter of the larger triangle is
66, find the measure of its sides.

5. The altitude to the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides the

hypotenuse into segments of length 9 and 16. Find the
length of the altitude.