RIGHT TRIANGLE SIMILARITY

Three Similar Rigth Triangles

a
h b
x y a c
x a

h b

y h b
I II III
 Right Triangle Similarity
Right ‘s Used Equation Formed
I and II = or (Formula #1)

II and III = or = (Formula #2)

I and III = or = (Formula #3)

EXAMPLE 1. Sovle for the missing side lengths
1. If find
2. If find a b
h
Solution: Find First using Formula #1.
x y
= c
= 16(4) = 20 (16)
or 8 or 8
c= x = cy
c= 20 = 20(4)
or 4
2. = cy
or 12

18

=c
= or 12

=
or 6
Geometric Mean
• The geometric mean of two positive real numbers a and b, is the positive number
y that satisfies the equation = .
Example: Solve the following geometric mean problems.
1. Find the geometric mean between 2 and 18.
The geometric mean of two positive real numbers is 3 Find the second
number if 15 is the first.
1. = ( where
=
36=
9
Deriving the Pythagorean Theorem
Given: rt (with the altitude to the hypotenuse)
A
Prove: = c
b

C B
Proof: a

Statements Reasons
1. rt 1. Given
2. = 2. rtSimilarity Formula #1 and Formula #2
3. + = 3. APE
4. = 4.Distributive Property
5. 5. Segments in the Hypotenuse because of the altitude

6. + 6. Substitute Property
7. 7. Symmetric Property
(Pythagorean theorem)
• If a right triangle is given, then the square of the lenght og the
hypothenuse is equal to the sum of the squere of the length of the
leg.
( Converse of the pythagorean Theorem)
• If the sum of the squares of the lenght of two sides of a triangle
is equal to the square of the lenght of the third side, then they
are sides of a right triagle.
Example 1.
Given: rt with as the right triagle
Sovle for the indicated length. A

1. If c

2. If a b

3. If b=60 and c = 100, find a. C B

a
SOLUTION: 1. 2.
= =
= 9 + 16 =
= = 12
=5

3. =+
10000= 3600
=
= 80
Exaple 2: Find the altitude of an equilateral triangle whose
parameter is 27 cm. round off your answer to two decimal places.
Solution: Strategy: In an equilateral triangle, the altitude bisects
one of the sides.
Using one of the right trianges formed,
=
=
81= 20.25
=
The altitude of the equilateral trianle is 7.79 cm.
Example 3. The top of a 14-foot ladder reaches the base of a
window that is 10 feet above the ground. How far from the house is the
base of the ladder placed?
Solution: =
196= 100+
=
=4
The base of the ladder is placed 4 feet from the house.
Example 4. Show that the numbers 10, 24, and 26 can be lengths of the sides of a right triagle.
Solution: Strategy: Use the Pythagorean Theorem where
Then check whether both sides both sides of the equationare equal.
=
676= 100+ 576
676=676
Therefore: 10,24 and 26 can be lengths of the sides of a right triangle
Example 5: Show thar the numbers1, 12, and 17 cannot be lengths of the sides of a right
triangle.
Solution: =
196= 1 + 169
196
Therefore: 1, 12, and 17 cannot be lengths for thesides of a right triagle
SPECIAL RIGHT TRIANGLES
 4.10.1 THE 45º -45º-90º TRIANGLE
45º
c
a
45º
b

= → but in a 45º-45º-90º triangle,

=+ → substitute
=
or → the second form can be derived if was used
Formula:
1.a=b (where a and b are the legs of the right triangle)
2. c=a or c=b
Example 1. Sovle for the indicated length
1. If 18, find . 3. If 11, find .
2. If = 4, find 4. If 16, find
Solution: 1. 3.
8 11=
2. =
=4
=4
8
4. Example 2. A vacant lot has the shape of a 45º-
16= 45º-90º triangle. if the longest border of this lot
= measures 48 meters, find the perimeter of the lot.
*=* Solution: 48= longest
45
= 48=
c= 48

8 = 45
24=
Thus, perimeter of triangle= 48+ 2(24)= 115.88
Therefore, the perimeter of the triangular lot is
115.88 meters
4.10.2 The 30º-60º-90º Triangle

c 30º30º c
a
60º 60º

where b (shorter leg) is the side opposite the 30º angles

=
(2= 60º
c
4= b
3=
= 30º

a
Example3: Sovle the indicated length
1. If , find
2.If b=5, find
3.If , find
Solution: 1. Solve the indicated b first when it is not given!
Solving for b: Solving for a:
c= 2b a= b
8= 2b a=4
b=4
2. Solving for a: Solving for c:
b
5 10
5
15
3. Strategy: Sovle for b first when it is not given!
Solving for b: Solving for c: b
a=b c=2b
10 b c=20
=
b= 10
Example 4: Sovle the given problem using the special right tringle.
1. Find the perimeter of an equiangular triangle with the an altitude of 9 cm.
round off your answer to two decimal places
2. Two electric posts are braced with wires each making a 30 and a 45 degree
angle with ground. Using the given information in the illustration, find the distance
between the two posts and the total lenght of the two wire braces. assume that the
electric posts are standing perpendicular to the ground.

7m

5m

45º
30º