1. Similarity in Right Triangles
8-1
Similarity in Right Triangles
Warm Up
Lesson Presentation
Lesson Quiz
Holt McDougal Geometry
Holt Geometry

2. Warm Up 1. Write a similarity statement comparing the two triangles.
Simplify.
Solve each equation.
x2 = 50
∆ADB ~ ∆EDC ±5

3. Objectives
Use geometric mean to find segment lengths in right triangles.
Apply similarity relationships in right triangles to solve problems.

4. Vocabulary
geometric mean

5. In a right triangle, an altitude drawn from the vertex of the right angle to the hypotenuse forms two right triangles.

7. Example 1: Identifying Similar Right Triangles
Write a similarity statement comparing the three triangles.
Sketch the three right triangles with the angles of the triangles in corresponding positions. Z W
By Theorem 8-1-1, ∆UVW ~ ∆UWZ ~ ∆WVZ.

8. Check It Out! Example 1
Write a similarity statement comparing the three triangles.
Sketch the three right triangles with the angles of the triangles in corresponding positions.
By Theorem 8-1-1, ∆LJK ~ ∆JMK ~ ∆LMJ.

9. Consider the proportion
Consider the proportion In this case, the means of the proportion are the same number, and that number is the geometric mean of the extremes.
The geometric mean of two positive numbers is the positive square root of their product. So the geometric mean of a and b is the positive number x such
that , or x2 = ab.

10. Example 2A: Finding Geometric Means
Find the geometric mean of each pair of numbers. If necessary, give the answer in simplest radical form.
4 and 25
Let x be the geometric mean.
x2 = (4)(25) = 100
Def. of geometric mean
x = 10
Find the positive square root.

11. Example 2B: Finding Geometric Means
Find the geometric mean of each pair of numbers. If necessary, give the answer in simplest radical form.
5 and 30
Let x be the geometric mean.
x2 = (5)(30) = 150
Def. of geometric mean
Find the positive square root.

12. Check It Out! Example 2a
Find the geometric mean of each pair of numbers. If necessary, give the answer in simplest radical form.
2 and 8
Let x be the geometric mean.
x2 = (2)(8) = 16
Def. of geometric mean
x = 4
Find the positive square root.

13. Check It Out! Example 2b
Find the geometric mean of each pair of numbers. If necessary, give the answer in simplest radical form.
10 and 30
Let x be the geometric mean.
x2 = (10)(30) = 300
Def. of geometric mean
Find the positive square root.

14. Check It Out! Example 2c
Find the geometric mean of each pair of numbers. If necessary, give the answer in simplest radical form.
8 and 9
Let x be the geometric mean.
x2 = (8)(9) = 72
Def. of geometric mean
Find the positive square root.

15. You can use Theorem to write proportions comparing the side lengths of the triangles formed by the altitude to the hypotenuse of a right triangle.
All the relationships in red involve geometric means.

17. Example 3: Finding Side Lengths in Right Triangles
Find x, y, and z.
62 = (9)(x)
6 is the geometric mean of 9 and x.
x = 4
Divide both sides by 9.
y2 = (4)(13) = 52
y is the geometric mean of 4 and 13.
Find the positive square root.
z2 = (9)(13) = 117
z is the geometric mean of 9 and 13.
Find the positive square root.

18. Once you’ve found the unknown side lengths, you can use the Pythagorean Theorem to check your answers.
Helpful Hint

19. 92 = (3)(u) 9 is the geometric mean of
Check It Out! Example 3
Find u, v, and w.
92 = (3)(u) is the geometric mean of
u and 3.
u = Divide both sides by 3.
w2 = (27 + 3)(27) w is the geometric mean of
u + 3 and 27.
Find the positive square root.
v2 = (27 + 3)(3) v is the geometric mean of
u + 3 and 3.
Find the positive square root.

20. Example 4: Measurement Application
To estimate the height of a Douglas fir, Jan positions herself so that her lines of sight to the top and bottom of the tree form a 90º angle. Her eyes are about 1.6 m above the ground, and she is standing 7.8 m from the tree. What is the height of the tree to the nearest meter?

21. Let x be the height of the tree above eye level.
Example 4 Continued
Let x be the height of the tree above eye level.
7.8 is the geometric mean of 1.6 and x.
(7.8)2 = 1.6x
x = ≈ 38
Solve for x and round.
The tree is about = 39.6, or 40 m tall.

22. Check It Out! Example 4
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?

23. Check It Out! Example 4 Continued
Let x be the height of cliff above eye level.
(28)2 = 5.5x
28 is the geometric mean of 5.5 and x.
x  142.5
Divide both sides by 5.5.
The cliff is about , or 148 ft high.

24. Lesson Quiz: Part I
Find the geometric mean of each pair of numbers. If necessary, give the answer in simplest radical form.
1. 8 and 18
2. 6 and 15 12

25. Lesson Quiz: Part II
For Items 3–6, use ∆RST.
3. Write a similarity statement comparing the three triangles.
4. If PS = 6 and PT = 9, find PR.
5. If TP = 24 and PR = 6, find RS.
6. Complete the equation (ST)2 = (TP + PR)(?).
∆RST ~ ∆RPS ~ ∆SPT 4 TP