6 Triangles

Similarity of Triangles

Two triangles are similiar, if
(i) their corresponding angles are equal and
(ii) their corresponding sides are in the same ratio (or proportion)

\(\textcolor{blue}{\textbf{ Theorem 6.1 :}}\) If a line is drawn parallel to one side of a triangle to intersect the other two sides in distinct points, the other two sides are divided in the same ratio.


\(\textcolor{blue}{\textbf{ Theorem 6.2 :}}\) If a line divides any two sides of a triangle in the same ratio, then the line is parallel to the third side.



\(\textcolor{blue}{\textbf{ EXERCISE 6.1}}\)

1. Fill in the blanks using the correct word given in brackets :
(i) All circles are _________. (congruent, similar)
(ii) All squares are _________. (similar, congruent)
(iii) All _________ triangles are similar. (isosceles, equilateral)
(iv) Two polygons of the same number of sides are similar, if
(a) their corresponding angles are _________ and (b) their corresponding sides are _________. (equal, proportional)

2. Give two different examples of pair of
(i) similar figures. (ii) non-similar figures.

3. State whether the following quadrilaterals are similar or not:

\(\textcolor{blue}{\textbf{ EXERCISE 6.2}}\)

1. In Fig. 6.17, (i) and (ii), DE || BC. Find EC in (i) and AD in (ii).

2. E and F are points on the sides PQ and PR respectively of a \(\triangle\) PQR. For each of the following cases, state whether EF || QR :

(i) PE = 3.9 cm, EQ = 3 cm, PF = 3.6 cm and FR = 2.4 cm
(ii) PE = 4 cm, QE = 4.5 cm, PF = 8 cm and RF = 9 cm
(iii) PQ = 1.28 cm, PR = 2.56 cm, PE = 0.18 cm and PF = 0.36 cm

3. In Fig. 6.18, if LM || CB and LN || CD, prove that \(\large{\frac{\textup{AM}}{\textup{AB}}}\) = \(\large{\frac{\textup{AN}}{\textup{AD}}}\)

4. In Fig. 6.19, DE || AC and DF || AE. Prove that \(\large{\frac{\textup{BF}}{\textup{FE}}}\) = \(\large{\frac{\textup{BE}}{\textup{EC}}}\)

5. In Fig. 6.20, DE || OQ and DF || OR. Show that EF || QR.

6. In Fig. 6.21, A, B and C are points on OP, OQ and OR respectively such that AB || PQ and AC || PR. Show that BC || QR.

7. Using Theorem 6.1, prove that a line drawn through the mid-point of one side of a triangle parallel to another side bisects the third side. (Recall that you have proved it in Class IX).

8. Using Theorem 6.2, prove that the line joining the mid-points of any two sides of a triangle is parallel to the third side. (Recall that you have done it in Class IX).

9. ABCD is a trapezium in which AB || DC and its diagonals intersect each other at the point O. Show that \(\large{\frac{\textup{AO}}{\textup{BO}}}\) = \(\large{\frac{\textup{CO}}{\textup{DO}}}\)

10. The diagonals of a quadrilateral ABCD intersect each other at the point O such that \(\large{\frac{\textup{AO}}{\textup{BO}}}\) = \(\large{\frac{\textup{CO}}{\textup{DO}}}\). Show that ABCD is a trapezium


\(\textcolor{blue}{\textbf{ Theorem 6.3 :}}\) If in two triangles, corresponding angles are equal, then their corresponding sides are in the same ratio (or proportion) and hence the two triangles are similar.

\(\textcolor{blue}{\textbf{ Theorem 6.4 :}}\) If in two triangles, sides of one triangle are proportional to (i.e., in the same ratio of ) the sides of the other triangle, then their corresponding angles are equal and hence the two triangles are similiar.

\(\textcolor{blue}{\textbf{ Theorem 6.5 :}}\) If one angle of a triangle is equal to one angle of the other triangle and the sides including these angles are proportional, then the two triangles are similar.

\(\textcolor{blue}{\textbf{ EXERCISE 6.3}}\)

1. State which pairs of triangles in Fig. 6.34 are similar. Write the similarity criterion used by you for answering the question and also write the pairs of similar triangles in the symbolic form :



2. In Fig. 6.35,\(\triangle\) ODC ~ \(\triangle\) OBA, \(\angle\) BOC = 125° and \(\angle\) CDO = 70°. Find \(\angle\) DOC, \(\angle\) DCO and \(\angle\) OAB.

3. Diagonals AC and BD of a trapezium ABCD with AB || DC intersect each other at the point O. Using a similarity criterion for two triangles, show that \(\large{\frac{\textup{OA}}{\textup{OC}}}\) = \(\large{\frac{\textup{OB}}{\textup{OD}}}\)
4. In Fig. 6.36, \(\large{\frac{\textup{QR}}{\textup{QS}}}\) = \(\large{\frac{\textup{QT}}{\textup{PR}}}\) and \(\angle\) 1 = \(\angle\) 2. Show that \(\triangle\)PQS ~ \(\triangle\) TQR.

5. S and T are points on sides PR and QR of \(\triangle\) PQR such that \(\angle\) P = \(\angle\) RTS. Show that \(\triangle\) RPQ ~ \(\triangle\) RTS.

6. In Fig. 6.37, if \(\triangle \textup{ABE} \displaystyle \cong \triangle \textup{ACD}\), show that \(\triangle\) ADE ~ \(\triangle\) ABC.

7. In Fig. 6.38, altitudes AD and CE of D ABC intersect each other at the point P. Show that:
(i) \(\triangle\) AEP ~ \(\triangle\) CDP
(ii) \(\triangle\) ABD ~ \(\triangle\) CBE
(iii) \(\triangle\) AEP ~ \(\triangle\) ADB
(iv) \(\triangle\) PDC ~ \(\triangle\) BEC

8. E is a point on the side AD produced of a parallelogram ABCD and BE intersects CD at F. Show that \(\triangle\) ABE ~ \(\triangle\) CFB.

9. In Fig. 6.39, ABC and AMP are two right triangles, right angled at B and M respectively. Prove that:
(i) \(\triangle\) ABC ~ \(\triangle\) AMP
(ii) \(\large{\frac{\textup{CA}}{\textup{PA}}}\) = \(\large{\frac{\textup{BC}}{\textup{MP}}}\)

10. CD and GH are respectively the bisectors of \(\angle\) ACB and \(\angle\) EGF such that D and H lie on sides AB and FE of \(\triangle\) ABC and \(\triangle\) EFG respectively. If \(\triangle\) ABC ~ \(\triangle\) FEG, show that:
(i) \(\large{\frac{\textup{CD}}{\textup{GH}}}\) = \(\large{\frac{\textup{AC}}{\textup{FG}}}\) (ii) \(\triangle\) DCB ~ \(\triangle\) HGE (iii) \(\triangle\) DCA ~ \(\triangle\) HGF

11. In Fig. 6.40, E is a point on side CB produced of an isosceles triangle ABC with AB = AC. If \(AD \perp BC\) and \(EF \perp AC\), prove that \(\triangle\) ABD ~ \(\triangle\) ECF.

12. Sides AB and BC and median AD of a triangle ABC are respectively proportional to sides PQ and QR and median PM of \(\triangle\) PQR (see Fig. 6.41). Show that \(\triangle\) ABC ~ \(\triangle\) PQR.

13. D is a point on the side BC of a triangle ABC such that \(\angle\) ADC = \(\angle\) BAC. Show that \(\textup{CA}^2\) = CB.CD.

14. Sides AB and AC and median AD of a triangle ABC are respectively proportional to sides PQ and PR and median PM of another triangle PQR. Show that \(\triangle\) ABC ~ \(\triangle\) PQR.

15. A vertical pole of length 6 m casts a shadow 4 m long on the ground and at the same time a tower casts a shadow 28 m long. Find the height of the tower.

16. If AD and PM are medians of triangles ABC and PQR, respectively where \(\triangle \) ABC ~ \(\triangle \) PQR, prove that \(\large\frac{AB}{PQ}\) = \(\large{\frac{\textup{AD}}{\textup{PM}}}\) Theorem 6.6 : The ratio of the areas of two similar triangles is equal to the square of the ratio of their corresponding sides. 6.42

\(\textcolor{blue}{\textbf{ EXERCISE 6.4}}\)

1. Let D ABC ~ D DEF and their areas be, respectively, 64 cm2 and 121 cm2. If EF = 15.4 cm, find BC. 2. Diagonals of a trapezium ABCD with AB || DC intersect each other at the point O. If AB = 2 CD, find the ratio of the areas of triangles AOB and COD. 3. In Fig. 6.44, ABC and DBC are two triangles on the same base BC. If AD intersects BC at O, show that ar (ABC) AO ar (DBC) DO = × 6.44 4. If the areas of two similar triangles are equal, prove that they are congruent. 5. D, E and F are respectively the mid-points of sides AB, BC and CA of D ABC. Find the ratio of the areas of D DEF and D ABC. 6. Prove that the ratio of the areas of two similar triangles is equal to the square of the ratio of their corresponding medians. 7. Prove that the area of an equilateral triangle described on one side of a square is equal to half the area of the equilateral triangle described on one of its diagonals. Tick the correct answer and justify : 8. ABC and BDE are two equilateral triangles such that D is the mid-point of BC. Ratio of the areas of triangles ABC and BDE is (A) 2 : 1 (B) 1 : 2 (C) 4 : 1 (D) 1 : 4 9. Sides of two similar triangles are in the ratio 4 : 9. Areas of these triangles are in the ratio (A) 2 : 3 (B) 4 : 9 (C) 81 : 16 (D) 16 : 81 Theorem 6.7 : If a perpendicular is drawn from the vertex of the right angle of a right triangle to the hypotenuse then triangles on both sides of the perpendicular are similar to the whole triangle and to each other. Theorem 6.8 : In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. 6.46 Theorem 6.9 : In a triangle, if square of one side is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides, then the angle opposite the first side is a right angle. 6.47

\(\textcolor{blue}{\textbf{ EXERCISE 6.5}}\)

1. Sides of triangles are given below. Determine which of them are right triangles. In case of a right triangle, write the length of its hypotenuse. (i) 7 cm, 24 cm, 25 cm (ii) 3 cm, 8 cm, 6 cm (iii) 50 cm, 80 cm, 100 cm (iv) 13 cm, 12 cm, 5 cm 2. PQR is a triangle right angled at P and M is a point on QR such that PM ^ QR. Show that PM2 = QM . MR. 3. In Fig. 6.53, ABD is a triangle right angled at A and AC ^ BD. Show that (i) AB2 = BC . BD (ii) AC2 = BC . DC (iii) AD2 = BD . CD 4. ABC is an isosceles triangle right angled at C. Prove that AB2 = 2AC2. 5. ABC is an isosceles triangle with AC = BC. If AB2 = 2 AC2, prove that ABC is a right triangle. 6. ABC is an equilateral triangle of side 2a. Find each of its altitudes. 7. Prove that the sum of the squares of the sides of a rhombus is equal to the sum of the squares of its diagonals. 8. In Fig. 6.54, O is a point in the interior of a triangle ABC, OD ^ BC, OE ^ AC and OF ^ AB. Show that (i) OA2 + OB2 + OC2 – OD2 – OE2 – OF2 = AF2 + BD2 + CE2, (ii) AF2 + BD2 + CE2 = AE2 + CD2 + BF2. 9. A ladder 10 m long reaches a window 8 m above the ground. Find the distance of the foot of the ladder from base of the wall. 10. A guy wire attached to a vertical pole of height 18 m is 24 m long and has a stake attached to the other end. How far from the base of the pole should the stake be driven so that the wire will be taut? 11. An aeroplane leaves an airport and flies due north at a speed of 1000 km per hour. At the same time, another aeroplane leaves the same airport and flies due west at a speed of 1200 km per hour. How far apart will be the two planes after 1 1 2 hours? 12. Two poles of heights 6 m and 11 m stand on a plane ground. If the distance between the feet of the poles is 12 m, find the distance between their tops. 13. D and E are points on the sides CA and CB respectively of a triangle ABC right angled at C. Prove that AE2 + BD2 = AB2 + DE2. 14. The perpendicular from A on side BC of a D ABC intersects BC at D such that DB = 3 CD (see Fig. 6.55). Prove that 2 AB2 = 2 AC2 + BC2. 15. In an equilateral triangle ABC, D is a point on side BC such that BD = 1 3 BC. Prove that 9 AD2 = 7 AB2. 16. In an equilateral triangle, prove that three times the square of one side is equal to four times the square of one of its altitudes. 17. Tick the correct answer and justify : In D ABC, AB = 6 3 cm, AC = 12 cm and BC = 6 cm. The angle B is : (A) 120° (B) 60° (C) 90° (D) 45°