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CHAPTER

17 PRACTICAL GEOMETRY
-TRIANGLES

Animation 17.1: Practical Geometry - Triangles

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17. Practical Geometry - Triangles eLearn.Punjab 17. Practical Geometry - Triangles eLearn.Punjab

Students Learning Outcomes Given

Two sides, say
After studying this unit, the students will be able to: mAB = 4.6cm and mAC = 4cm and the included angle, m∠A = 60°.
• Construct a triangle having given: two sides and the included
angle, one side and two of the angles, two of its sides and the angle Required
opposite to one of them and two of them angles, two of its sides and To construct the rABC using given information of sides and the
the angle opposite to one of them (with all the three possibilities). included angle = ∠600
• Draw: angle bisectors, altitudes, perpendicular bisectors, medians,
of a given triangle and verify their concurrency. Construction:
• Construct a triangle equal in area to a given quadrilateral. Construct (i) Draw a line segment mAB = 4.6cm
a rectangle equal in area to a given triangle. Construct a square (ii) At the end A of AB make m∠BAC = ∠600
equal in area to a given rectangle. Construct a triangle of equivalent (iii) Cut off mAC = 4cm from the terminal side of ∠600.
area on a base of given length. (iv) Join BC
(v) Then ABC is the required r.
Introduction
In this unit we shall learn to construct different triangles, (b) To construct a triangle, having given one side and two of the
rectangles, squares etc. The knowledge of these basic constructions angles.
is very useful in every day life, especially in the occupations of wood-
working, graphic art and metal trade etc. Intermixing of geometrical
figures is used to create artistic look. The geometrical constructions
are usually made with the help of a pair of compasses, set squares,
dividers and a straight edge.

Observe that
If the given line segments are too big or too small , a suitable
scale may be taken for constructing the figure.

17.1 Construction of Triangles

(a) To construct a triangle, having given two sides and the Given
included angle. The side mAB = 5cm, say and two of the angles, say
m∠A = 60° and m∠B = 60°.

Required
To construct the rABC using given data.

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Construction: Construction:
(i) Draw a line segment mAB = 5cm (i) Draw a line segment AD of any length.
(ii) At the end A of AB make m∠BAC = ∠600 (ii) At A make m∠DAB = m∠A = a
(iii) At the end point B of BA make m∠ABC = ∠600 (iii) Cut off AB = c.
(iv) The terminal sides of these two angles meet at C. (iv) With centre B and radius equal to a, draw an arc.
(v) Then ABC is the required r. Three cases arise.

Observe that Case I

When two angles of a triangle are given, the third angle can be When the arc with radius a cuts AD in two distinct points C and C’
found from the fact that the sum of three angles of triangle is 1800. as in Figure (a). Joint BC and BC’.
Thus two angles being known, all the three are known, and we can Then both the triangles ABC and ABC’ have the given parts and are
take any two of these three angles as the base angles with given side the required triangles.
as base.
Case II
(c) Ambiguous Case When the arc with radius a only touches AD at C, as in Figure (b).
To construct a triangle having given two of its sides and the Join BC.
angle opposite to one of them. Then rABC is the required triangle angled
at C.

Case III
When the arc with radius a neither cuts nor
touches AD as in Figure (c).
There will be no triangle in this case. Figure (c)

Note: Recall that in a rABC the length of the side opposite to ∠A is

Figure (a) Figure (b) denoted by a, opposite to ∠B is denoted by b and opposite to ∠C is
denoted by c.

Given EXERCISE 17.1

Two sides a, c and m∠A = a opposite to one of them, say a.
1. Construct rABC in which
Required (i) mAB = 3.2cm, mBC = 4.2cm, mCA = 5.2cm
To construct a triangle having the given parts. (ii) mAB = 4.2cm, mBC = 3.9cm, mCA = 3.6cm
(iii) mAB = 4.8cm, mBC = 3.7cm, m∠B = 60°
(iv) mAB = 3cm, mAC = 3.2cm, m∠A = 45°
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17.1.1 Drawing angle bisectors, altitudes etc.

(v) mAB = 4.2cm, mCA = 3.5cm, m∠C = 75°
(vi) mAB = 2.5cm, m∠A = 30°, m∠B = 105°
(a) Draw angle bisectors of a given triangle and verify their
(vii) mAB = 3.6cm, m∠A = 75°, m∠B = 45°
concurrency.
2. Construct rXYZ in which
(i) mYZ = 7.6cm, mXY = 6.1cm and m∠X = 90°
Example
(ii) mZX = 6.4cm, mYZ = 2.4cm and m∠X = 90°
(iii) mXY = 5.5cm, mZX = 4.5cm and m∠Z = 90°. (i) Construct rABC having given
3. Construct a right-angled r measure of whose hypotenuse is 5 mAB = 4.6cm, mBC = 5cm and
cm and one side is 3.2 cm. (Hint: Angle in a semi-circle is a right mCA = 5.1cm.
angle). (ii) Draw its angle bisectors and verify that
4. Construct a right-angled isosceles triangle whose hypotenuse is they are concurrent.
(i) 5.2 cm long
[Hint: A point on the right bisector of a line segment is Given
equidistant form its end points.] The side mAB = 4.6cm, mBC = 5cm and
(ii) 4.8 cm (iii) 6.2 cm (iv) 5.4 cm mCA = 5.1cm of a ∆ABC.
5. (Ambiguous Case) Construct a rABC in which
(i) mAC = 4.2cm, mAB = 5.2cm, m∠B = 45° (two ∆s) Required
(ii) mAC = 2.5cm, mAB = 5.0cm, m∠A = 30° (one ∆s) (i) To construct rABC.
(iii) mBC = 5cm, mAB = 3.5cm, m∠B = 60° (ii) To draw its angle bisectors and verify their concurrency.

Definitions Construction
Three or more than three lines are said to be concurrent, if (i) Take mBC = 5cm.
they all pass through the same point. The common point is called (ii) With B as centre and radius mBA = 4.6cm draw an arc.
the point of concurrency of the lines. The point of concurrency has (iii) With C as centre and radius mCA = 5.1cm draw another arc which
its own importance in geometry. They are given special names. intersects the first arc at A.
(iv) Join BA and CA to complete the rABC.
(i) The internal bisectors of the angles of a triangle meet at a (v) Draw bisectors of ∠B and ∠C meeting each other in the point I.
point called the incentre of the triangle. (vi) Now draw bisector of the third ∠A.
(ii) The point of concurrency of the three perpendicular bisectors (vii) We observe that the third angle bisector also passes through the
of the sides of a r is called the circumcentre of the r . point I.
(iii) The point of concurrency of the three altitudes of a r is called (viii) Hence the angle bisectors of the rABC are concurrent at I, which
its orthocentre. lies within the r.
(iv) The point where the three medians of a r meet is called the
centroid of the triangle. Note: Recall that the point of concurrency of bisectors of the angles
of triangle is called its incentre. Version: 1.1
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(b) Draw altitudes of a given triangle and verify their concurrency. Example
(i) Construct a rABC having given mAB = 4cm, mBC = 4.8cm and
Example mAC = 3.6cm.
(i) Construct a triangle ABC in which (ii) Draw perpendicular bisectors of its sides and verify that they
mBC = 5.9cm, m∠B = 560 and are concurrent.
m∠C = 440.
(ii) Draw the altitudes of the triangle Given
and verify that they are concurrent. Three sides mAB = 4cm, mBC = 4.8cm and mAC = 3.6cm of a rABC.

Given Required
The side mBC = 5.9cm and (i) To Construct rABC.
m∠B = 560, m∠C = 440. (ii) To draw perpendicular bisectors of its sides and to verify that
they are concurrent.
Required
(i) To Construct rABC.
(ii) To draw its altitudes and verify their concurrency.

Construction
(i) Take mBC = 5.9cm.
(ii) Using protractor draw m∠CBA = 560 and m∠BCA = 440 to complete
the rABC
(iii) From the vertex A drop AP ^ BC.
(iv) From the vertex B drop BQ ^ CA. These two altitudes meet in the
point O inside the rABC.
(v) Now from the third vertex C, drop CR ^ AB. Construction
(vi) We observe that this third altitude also passes through the point (i) Take mBC = 4.8cm.
of intersection O of the first two altitudes. (ii) With B as centre and radius mBA = 4cm draw an arc.
(vii) Hence the three altitudes of rABC are concurrent at O. (iii) With C as centre and radius mCA = 3.6cm draw another arc that
intersects the first arc at A.
Note: Recall that the point of concurrency of the three altitudes of a (iv) Join BA and CA to complete the rABC.
triangle is called its orthocentre. (v) Draw perpendicular bisectors of BC and CA meeting each other
at the point O.
(c) Draw perpendicular bisectors of the sides of a given triangle (vi) Now draw the perpendicular bisector of third side AB.
and verify their concurrency. (vii) We observe that it also passes through O, the point of intersection
of first two perpendicular bisectors.
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(viii) Hence the three perpendicular bisectors of size of rABC are (iii) With B as centre and radius mBC = 3.5cm draw another arc which
concurrent at O. intersects the first arc at C.
(iv) Join AC and BC to get the rABC.
Note: Recall that the point of concurrency of the perpendicular (v) Draw perpendicular bisectors of the sides AB, BC and CA of the
bisectors of the sides of a triangle is called its circumcentre. rABC and mark their mid-points P, Q and R respectively.
(vi) Join A to the mid-point Q to get the median AQ.
(d) Draw medians of a given triangle and verify their concurrency (vii) Join B to the mid-point R to get the median BR.
(viii) The medians AQ and BR meet in the point G.
Example (ix) Now draw the third median CP.
(i) Construct a rABC in which mAB = 4.8cm, mBC = 3.5cm and (x) We observe that the third median also passes through the point
mAC = 4cm. of intersection G of the first two medians.
(ii) Draw medians of rABC and verify that they are concurrent at (xi) Hence the three medians of the rABC pass through the same
a point within the triangle. By measurement show that the point G. That is, they are concurrent at G. By measuring,
medians divide each other in the ratio 2 : 1. AG : GQ = 2 : 1 etc.
Note: Recall that the point of concurrency of the three medians of a
Given triangle is called the centroid of the rABC.
Three side mAB = 4.8cm, mBC = 3.5cm and mAC = 4cm of a rABC.
EXERCISE 17.2
Required
(i) To Construct rABC. 1. Construct the following r’s ABC. Draw the bisectors of their angles
(ii) Draw its medians and verify their concurrency. and verify their concurrency.
(i) mAB = 4.5cm, mBC = 3.1cm, mCA = 5.2cm
(ii) mAB = 4.2cm, mBC = 6cm, mCA = 5.2cm
(iii) mAB = 3.6cm, mBC = 4.2cm, m∠B = 75°.
2. Construct the following r’s PQR. Draw their altitudes and show
that they are concurrent.
(i) mPQ = 6cm, mQR = 4.5cm, mPR = 5.5cm
(ii) mPQ = 4.5cm, mQR = 3.9cm, m∠R = 45°
(iii) mRP = 3.6cm, m∠Q = 30°, m∠P = 105°.
3. Construct the following triangles ABC. Draw the perpendicular
bisectors of their sides and verify their concurrency. Do they meet
inside the triangle?
(i) mAB = 5.3cm, m∠A = 45°, m∠B = 30°
Construction
(ii) mBC = 2.9cm, m∠A = 30°, m∠B = 60°
(i) Take mAB = 4.8cm.
(iii) mAB = 2.4cm, mAC = 3.2cm, m∠A = 120°.
(ii) With A as centre and mAC = 4cm as radius draw an arc.
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4. Construct the following rs XYZ. Draw their three medians and mQR = 7cm, mRS = 6cm, mSP = 2.75cm. m∠QRS = 600, and
show that they are concurrent. m∠RSP = 900. 1
(i) mYZ = 4.1cm, m∠Y = 60°, m∠X= 75° [Hint: 2.75 = x
2 5.5]
(ii) mXY = 4.5cm, mYZ = 3.4cm, mZX = 5.6cm 3. Construct a r equal in area to the quadrilateral ABCD, having
(iii) mZX = 4.3cm, m∠X = 75°, m∠Y = 45° mAB = 6cm, mBC = 4cm, mAC = 7.2cm, m∠BAD = 1050, and
mBD = 8cm.
17.2 Figures with Equal Areas 4. Construct a right-angled triangle equal in area to
a given square.
(i) Construct a triangle equal in area to a given quadrilateral.

Given (ii) Construct a rectangle equal in area to a given triangle.

A quadrilateral ABCD.
Given
Required rABC
To construct a r equal in area to quadrilateral ABCD.
Required
Construction To construct a rectangle equal in area
(i) Join AC. to rABC .
(ii) Through D draw DP || CA, meeting BA produced at P.
(iii) Join PC. Construction
(iv) Then PBC is the required triangle. (i) Take a rABC.
fg
(ii) Draw DP, the perpendicular bisector
Observe that of BC.
rs APC, ADC stand on the same base AC and between the same fg fg
(iii) Through the vertex A of rABC draw PAQ || BC intersecting PD at P.
parallels AC and PD. (iv) Take mPQ = mDC.
Hence rAPC = rADC (v) Join Q and C.
rAPC + rABC = rADC + rABC or rPBC = quadrilateral ABCD. (vi) Then CDPQ is the required rectangle.

EXERCISE 17.3 Example

Construct a parallelogram equal in area to a given triangle having
1. (i) Construct a quadrilateral ABCD, having mAB = mAC = 5.3cm, one angle equal to a given angle.
mBC = mCD = 3.8cm and mAD = 2.8cm.
(ii) On the side BC construct a r equal in area to the quadrilateral Given
ABCD. rABC and ∠a.
2. Construct a r equal in area to the quadrilateral PQRS, having
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Required (v) On DM as a side construct a square DFLM.

To construct a parallelogram equal in This shall be the required square.
area to rABC and having one angle = ∠a
Example
Construction Construct a square equal in area to a given triangle.
(i) Bisect BC at D.
(ii) Draw DE making ∠CDE = ∠a
g
(iii) Draw AEF || to BC cutting DE at E.
(iv) Cut off EF = DC. Join C and F.
Then CDEF is the required parallelogram.

EXERCISE 17.4

1. Construct a r with sides 4 cm, 5 cm and 6 cm and construct a

rectangle having its area equal to that of the r. Measure its
Given
diagonals. Are they equal?
rABC.
2. Transform an isosceles r into a rectangle.
3. Construct a rABC such that mAB = 3cm, mBC = 3.8cm, mAC = 4.8cm.
Required
Construct a rectangle equal in area to rABC, the and measure its
To construct a square equal in area to rABC.
sides.
Construction
(iii) Construct a square equal in area to a given rectangle. fg
(i) Draw PAQ || BC.
(ii) Draw the perpendicular bisector of BC, bisecting it at D and
Given fg
meeting PAQ at P.
A rectangle ABCD.
(iii) Draw CQ ^ PQ meeting it in Q.
(iv) Take a line EFG and cut off EF = DP and FG = DC.
Required
(v) Bisect EG at O.
To construct a square equal in area to
(vi) With O as centre and radius = OE draw a semi - circle.
rectangle ABCD.
(vii) At F draw FM ^ EG meeting the semi - circle at M.
(viii) With MF as a side, complete the required square FMNR.
Construction
(i) Produced AD to E making mDE = mCD.
(iv) Construct a triangle of equivalent area on a base of given
(ii) Bisect AE at O.
length.
(iii) With centre O and radius OA describe a semi - circle.
(iv) Produced CD to meet the semi - circle in M.
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Given
rABC 6. Construct a r having base 5 cm and other sides equal to 5 cm
and 6 cm. Construct a square equal in area to given r.
Required
To construct a triangle with base x and having area equivalent to REVIEW EXERCISE 17
area rABC.
1. Fill in the following blanks to make the statement true:
(i) The side of a right angled triangle opposite to 90o is called ……
(ii) The line segment joining a vertex of a triangle to the mid-point
of its opposite side is called a ……
(iii) A line drawn from a vertex of a triangle which is …… to its
opposite side is called an altitude of the triangle.
Construction (iv) The bisectors of the three angles of a triangle are ……
(i) Construct the given rABC. (v) The point of concurrency of the right bisectors of the three
fg
(ii) Draw AD || BC. sides of the triangle is …… from its vertices.
fg
(iii) With B as centre and radius = x, draw an arc cutting AD in M. (vi) Two or more triangles are said to be similar if they are
(iv) Join BM and CM. equiangular and measures of their corresponding sides are ….
(v) Then BCM is the required triangle with base BM = x and area (vii) The altitudes of a right triangle are concurrent at the …… of the
equivalent to rABC. right angle.
2. Multiple Choice Questions. Choose the correct answer.
EXERCISE 17.5

1. Construct a rectangle whose adjacent sides are 2.5 cm and 5 cm

respectively. Construct a square having area equal to the given
rectangle. 3. Define the following
2. Construct a square equal in area to a rectangle whose adjacent (i) Incentre (ii) Circumcentre
sides are 4.5 cm and 2.2 cm respectively. Measure the sides of (iii) Ortho centre (iv) Centroid
the square and find its area and compare with the area of the (v) Point of concurrency
rectangle.
3. In Q.2 above verify by measurement that the perimeter of the SUMMARY
square is less than that of the rectangle.
4. Construct a square equal in area to the sum of two squares In this unit we learnt the construction of following figures and relevant
having sides 3 cm and 4 cm respectively. concepts:
5. Construct a r having base 3.5 cm and other two sides equal to • To construct a triangle, having given two sides and the included
3.4 cm and 3.8 cm respectively. Transform it into of a square equal angle.
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• To construct a triangle, having given one side and two of the angles.
• To construct a triangle having given two of its sides and the angle
opposite to one of them.
• Draw angle bisectors of a given triangle and verify their concurrency.
• Draw altitudes of a given triangle and verify their concurrency.

• Draw perpendicular bisectors of the sides of a given triangle and

verify their concurrency.
• Draw medians of a given triangle and verify their concurrency.
• Construct a triangle equal in area to a given quadrilateral.
• Construct a rectangle equal in area to a given triangle.
• Construct a square equal in area to a given rectangle.
• Construct a triangle of equivalent area on a base of given length.
• Three or more than three lines are said to be concurrent if these
pass through the same point and that point is called the point of
concurrency.
• The point where the internal bisectors of the angles of a triangle
meet is called incentre of a triangle.
• Circumscentre of a triangle means the point of concurrency of the
three perpendiculars bisectors of the sides of a triangle.
• Median of a triangle means a line segment joining a vertex of a
triangle to the midpoint of the opposite side.
• Orthocentre of a triangle means the point of concurrency of three
altitudes of a triangle.

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