Triangle Proportionality

Objectives:

•Use proportionality theorems to calculate

segment lengths.
•To solve real-life problems, such as
determining the dimensions of a piece of
land.
Use Proportionality Theorems
• In this lesson, you will study four
proportionality theorems. Similar triangles
are used to prove each theorem.
Proportionality Theorems!
Triangle
Proportionality
Theorem
If a line parallel to one
side of a triangle
intersects the other
two sides, then it
divides the two sides
proportionally.
Example 1
Find the length of XZ.
Proportionality Theorems!
Converse of the
Triangle Proportionality
Theorem

If a line divides two

sides of a triangle
proportionally, then it
is parallel to the third
side.
Example 2
Determine whether PS || QR.
Example 3
Find the value of
x so that
BC || ED.
Example 4
Find the length of AB.
Discussion
Notice that the angle
bisector also divides
Recall
the that
thirdan angle
side of the
bisector is a ray that
triangle into two parts. B

divides
Are thosean angle
parts into
two congruentOr
congruent? parts.
is there D

some other
relationship between A C

them?
Proportionality Theorems!
Angle Bisector
Proportionality Theorem
If a ray bisects an angle of a
triangle, then it divides the
opposite side into segments
whose lengths are
proportional to the other
two sides.
Example 5
Find the value of x.
Example 6
Find the value of x.
 Similarity in Right Triangles
In this lesson we will learn the relationship between different
parts of a right triangle that has an altitude drawn in it
 Geometric Mean
Before we look at right triangles we will examine something
called the GEOMETRIC MEAN
a x
Geometric Mean: The number x such that 
x b
, where a, b, and x
are positive numbers

If we solve we get x2=ab, so x  ab

Ex. Find the geometric mean between 9 and 4.

You could solve the proportion OR take the short cut
9 x

x  94
x 4
x2=36
x  36
x=6 x=6
 Geometric Mean
a x
Geometric Mean: The number x such that  , where a, b, and x
x b
are positive numbers

If we solve we get x2=ab, so x   ab

Ex. Find the geometric mean between 10 and 15.

You could solve the proportion OR take the short cut
10 x

x 15 x  10  15
x2=150 x  150
x5 6 x5 6
 Practice Problems
a x
Geometric Mean: The number x such that  , where a, b, and x
x b
are positive numbers

If we solve we get x2=ab, so x   ab

Put these two problems on your direction sheet

1.Find the geometric mean between 5 and 20
2.Find the geometric mean between 12 and 15.
 Similarity in Right Triangles
Theorem 7: The altitude to the hypotenuse of a right triangle
divides the triangles into two triangles that are similar to the
original triangle and to each other.

Segments of the hypotenuse

Example 1- Identifying Similar Right Triangle

Using the concept of correspondence, what are the

three triangles that are similar?

Sketch the three right triangles with the angles of the triangles in
corresponding positions.

∆UWV ~ ∆UWZ ~ ∆WZV.

 Example 2-On your own
Using the concept of correspondence, what are the
three triangles that are similar?

Sketch the three right triangles with the angles of the

triangles in corresponding positions.

∆LJK ~ ∆JMK ~ ∆LMJ.

 You can use Theorem 7 to write proportions comparing the side
lengths of the triangles formed by the altitude to the hypotenuse of
a right triangle. They are as follows.

NOTE: All the relationships in red involve geometric means.

 Geometric Mean with Altitude
Corollary 1: The length of the altitude to the hypotenuse of a right
triangle is the geometric mean of the lengths of the segments of the
hypotenuse

? in
altitude

5.2 in 8.75in
Let x be the length of the altitude to the hypotenuse.
Applying Corollary 1, we get
 Similarity in Right Triangles
Ex. Find the values of x in the following right triangles.
9 7 x is the geometric mean
of 9 and 7
x x  97
x  63
x3 7
x 5 is the geometric mean
of x and 3

5 5  3x
3 25  3x
25 / 3  x
 Practice Problems
Put these three problems on your direction sheet. Find y in
each picture.
3. 4.
y

2
8
5.
9
19
y
 Geometric Mean
Corollary 2: The altitude to the hypotenuse separates the
hypotenuse so that the length of each leg of the triangle is the
geometric mean of the lengths of the hypotenuse and the length of
the segment of the hypotenuse adjacent to the leg.
6 is the geometric mean of 3
and 12
3 is the part of the
6
hypotenuse closest to side
of 6. 12 is the whole
6 hypotenuse
3
6  3  12
3 6

6 12
 Geometric Mean
Example. f is the geometric mean of
10 10 and 12
f f  10  12
2
f  120
f  2 30

w is the geometric mean of

w 2 and 9
w  29
w  18
2 7
w3 2
 Practice Problems
Put these two problems on your direction sheet
7. Find w, j

A
8. Find w, j
w
C 8

C
D
j j
w

12
A 4 D 5 B

B
 Example 6: On your own!
Find u, v, and w.
h2 = (x)(y)
92 = (3)(u) 9 is the geometric mean of u and 3.
u = 27 Divide both sides by 3.

b2 = (y)(c)
w2 = (27 + 3)(27) w is the geometric mean of u + 3 and 27.

Find the positive square root.

a2 = (x)(c)
v2 = (27 + 3)(3) v is the geometric mean of u + 3 and 3.
Find the positive square root.
Example 7

To estimate the height of a Douglas fir, Jan

positions his self so that his lines of sight to the top
and bottom of the tree form a 90º angle. His eyes
are about 1.6 m above the ground, and he is
standing 7.8 m from the tree. What is the height
of the tree to the nearest meter?

Let x be the height of the tree above

eye level.
h2 = (x)(y)
(7.8)2 = 1.6y 7.8 is the geometric mean of 1.6 and y.
y = 38.025 ≈ 38 Solve for y and round.
The tree is about 38 + 1.6 = 39.6, or 40 m tall.
 Example 8-on your own!
A surveyor positions himself so that his line of
sight to the top of a cliff and his line of sight to
the bottom form a right angle as shown.
What is the height of the cliff to the nearest
foot?

Let x be the height of cliff above eye level.

(28)2 = 5.5x 28 is the geometric mean

of 5.5 and y.
y  142.5 Divide both sides by 5.5.

The cliff is about 142.5 + 5.5, or 148 ft high.

Special Right
Triangles
What you should already know…
• Right triangles have one 90o angle
• The longest side is called the
HYPOTENUSE
– It is directly across from the 90o
• The other sides are called LEGS
Hypotenuse
LEG

LEG
Pythagorean Theorem

• The sides of a right triangle satisfy this

theorem:
a 2 + b 2 = c2
LEG Hypotenuse
Vocabulary
• 45-45-90 Triangle:
– In a 45-45-90 triangle, the hypotenuse is2
times as long as each leg.
Hints for 45-45-90
• Leg to Hypotenuse: MULTIPLY by 2
• Hypotenuse to Leg: DIVIDE by 2

Hypotenuse = LEG 2
LEG

LEG
Example 1:
• Find the value of x.
a) b)
 Vocabulary
• 30-60-90 Triangle:
– In a 30-60-90 triangle, the hypotenuse is twice as long
as the shorter leg, and the longer leg is 3 times as
long as the shorter leg.
How do you know which is the shorter
leg and which is the longer leg???
• We know that the hypotenuse is directly
across from the 90O angle.
• The shorter leg is across from the smaller
angle (30o)
• The longer leg is across from the larger
angle (60O)
30-60-90

30
o

Longer Leg Hypotenuse

60
o

Shorter Leg
Hints for 30-60-90
• Shorter Leg to Hypotenuse: MULTIPLY by 2

• Hypotenuse to Shorter Leg: DIVIDE by 2

• Shorter Leg to Longer Leg: MULTIPLY by 3

• Longer Leg to Shorter Leg: DIVIDE by 3

a n t to
a y s w er
a lw h o r t
You ith the S asier!
r k w s it e
w o ake
… it m
L eg
30-60-90

30
o

Longer Leg = Shorter 3 Hypotenuse = 2Shorter

60
o

Shorter Leg
Example 2:
• Find the values of x and y.
You Try:
• Find the value of each variable.
1) 2)
The Pythagorean
Theorem
The Pythagorean Theorem

Given any right triangle, A2 + B2 = C2

C
A

B
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Example
In the following figure if A = 3 and B = 4, Find C.
A2 + B2 = C2
32 + 4 2 = C 2
C 9 + 16 = C2
A 25  C 2

5 = C

B
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Pythagorean Theorem :
Examples
1. A=8, B= 15, Find C C = 17

2. A=7, B= 24, Find C C = 25

A C
3. A=9, B= 40, Find C C = 41

4. A=10, B=24, Find C C = 26

B
5. A =6, B=8, Find C C = 10

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 Finding the legs of a right triangle:

In the following figure if B = 5 and C = 13, Find A.

A2 + B2 = C2

A2 +52 = 132

C A2 + 25 = 169
A
A2+25-25=169-25

B A2 = 144 A = 12

50
More Examples:
1) A=8, C =10 , Find B B=6
2) A=15, C=17 , Find B B=8
3) B =10, C=26 , Find A A = 24
4) A=15, B=20, Find C C = 25
5) A =12, C=16, Find B
6) B =5, C=10, Find A
B = 10.6
A C
A = 8.7
7) A =6, B =8, Find C C = 10
8) A=11, C=21, Find B B = 17.9
B

51
 Given the lengths of three sides,
how do you know if you have a
right triangle?
Given A = 6, B=8, and C=10, describe the triangle.
A2 + B2 = C2

C 62 +82 = 102
A
36 + 64 = 100

B This is true, so you have a right triangle.

52
 If A2 + B2 > C2, you have an acute triangle.

• Given A = 4, B = 5, and C =6, describe the triangle.

A2 + B2 = C2

42 + 52 = 62
A B

16 + 25 = 36
C
41 > 36, so we have an acute triangle.
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 If A2 + B2 < C2, you have an obtuse triangle.

• Given A = 4, B = 6, and C =8, describe the triangle.

A2 + B2 = C2

42 + 62 = 82 A
B
16 + 36 = 64
C
52 < 64, so we have an obtuse triangle.

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Describe the following triangles as acute, right, or obtuse

right 1) A=9, B=40, C=41

right 2) A=10, B=15, C=20
obtuse 3) A=2, B=5, C=6
right 4) A=12, B=16, C=20
acute 5) A=11, B=12, C=14
A
C
obtuse 6) A=2, B=3, C=4
acute 7) A=1, B=7, C=7
right 8) A=90, B=120, C=150
B
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