Mathematics PRMO/RMO – Triangles : Similarity and Congruency

1 ABCD is a parallelogram and O is any point. The parallelograms OAEB, OBFC, OCGD and ODHA
are completed. Show that EFGH is a parallelogram
Solution:

OA = DH = EB [||gm property]
DG = DC = BF [|| gm property]
OA || DH || EB
OC || DG || BF
HDG = EBF
EBF  HDG
HG = EF
Similarly FG = HE
ERGH is a ||gm

2 Through C the midpoint of a straight line segment AB, a straight line is drawn. Perpendiculars AD and
BE are dropped upon it from A and B. Prove that AD = BE.
Solution:

ACD = BCE [V.O]

AC = BC[C is mid point]
D = E = 90°
By AAS
ACD  BCE
AD = BE [CPCT]
3 AB and CD are two straight lines meeting at O and XY is another straight line. Show that in general
 two points can be found in XY which are equidistant from AB and CD. When is there only one such
point?
Solution:

Anypoint equidistance from AB & CD lies on angle bisectors of BOD and BOC
n general XY cut bisectors at two points.
For one point XY must be parallel to one of the bisectors.

4 ABC is an isosceles triangle. The base BC is produced on either side to D and E so that BD = CE.
Prove that AD = AE
Solution:

ABD = ACE = 180 – x

AB = AC& BD = CE
 ABD  ACE By SAS
AD = AE

5 If the hypotenuse AC of a right angled ABC is of length 2AB. Prove that BAC = 2ACB.
Solution:
Extend AB to D , such that BD = BA

ABC  DBC [By SAS]

CD = AC = 2x [C.P.C.T]
 AD = CD = AC
∆ADC is equilateral ∆
A = 60 &ACB = 30
6 ABC is an isosceles triangle having B = ∠C = 2∠A. If BD bisecting B meets AC in D, prove that
AD = BC.
Solution:

DAB = DBA = x
AD = BD …(I)
BDC = x + x [Exterior angle properties]
 BDC = DCB = 2x
BD = BC …(II)
FROM (1) & (2)
AD = BC

7 In ABC, ACB = 60°, BAC = 75°, AD BC at D, BE AC at E, AD intersects BE at H. Find

CHD in degrees.
Solution:

ABC = 180° – 75° – 60° = 45°, we have BAC = 45°,

Therefore AD= BD. Since
HBD = 90° – ACB = CAD,
We have HBD  CAD (ASA) hence
HD = CD, CHD = 45°

8 ABCD is a trapezium with AB || CD and AB < DC. AC and BD intersect at E, EF || AB, intersecting
BC at F . Given that AB = 20; CD = 80; BC = 100, then EF is
Option:
(a) 10 (b) 12 (c) 16 (d) 18
Answer: (c)
 Solution:
Since BEF ~ BDC and CEF ~ CAB

EF BF EF CF
= & =
DC BC AB BC

 1 1 
 EF  +  = 1,
 80 20 
EF
= 1,  EF = 16
16

9 P is any point with ABC. Q is a point outside ABC such that CBQ = ABP and BCQ =
BAP. Show that the triangles PBQ and ABC are similar.
Solution:
APB  CQB  By AA

AB PB
=
BC QB

AB BC
 =
PB QB

ABC = ABP + PBC

= BQC + PBC

= QBP

ABC  PBQ

10 In the isosceles right triangles ABC, B = 90°, AD is the median on BC. Write AB = BC = a. If BE
AD, intersecting AC at E, and EF BC at F then EF is
Option:
 1 1 2 2
(a) a (b) a (c) a (d) a
3 2 3 5
Answer: (a)
Solution:
From BAD = EBF we have Rt ABD ~ RtEBF. Then
AB BF
2= =
BD EF
EFC ~ ABC,

 EF = FC,

BF
 =2
FC
EF FC 1
 = =
AB BC 3
1 1
 EF = AB = a.
3 3

11 ABC is an isosceles right triangle with C = 90°,M,N are on AB such that MCN = 45°.Write AM =
m,MN = x, BN = n. Then the triangle formed by taking x,m,n as the lengths of it three sides is
Option:
(a) an acute triangle (b) a right triangle (c) an obtuse trigangle
(d) Not determined
Answer: (b)
Solution:
MCN = A = B = 45 , MCN ~ CAN ~ MBC ,

BC x+m
 =
x+n AC
BC = AC

 BC2 = ( x + n )( x + m )

2BC2 = AB2

2 ( x + m )( x + n ) = ( m + x + n )
2

By simplification, we have x2 = m2 + n2, therefore the triangle is a right triangle , the answer is (B)

12 In ABC, D is the midpoint of BC, E is on AC such that AC = 3EC. BE and AD intersect at G. Find
 AG:GD.
Solution:
Though D introduce DF || BE. Intersecting AC at F
By the midpoint theorem,

EF = FC.

AC = 3EC  AE = 2EC

 AE = 4EF

ADF ~ AGE

AG AE
 = =4
GD EF

13 Given that AD is the median on BC of ABC, E is a point on AD such that AE =1/3 AD. The line CE
intersects AB at F. If AF = 1.2cm. Find the length of AB.
Solution:
From D introduce DG || BA, intersecting CF at G. By the midpoint theorem CG = GF and DG = 1/2
BF

AEF ~ DEG ( A.A.A )

AF AE 1
 = = ,
DG ED 2
1 1
AF = DG = BF,
2 4
AF = 1.2 cm

AB = 4AF + AF = 5AF = 6 cm

14 ABCD is a rectangle with AD = 2; AB = 4. P is on AB such that AP : P B = 2 : 1, CE DP at E. Find

CE.
 Solution:
PB 1
Extend DP to meet the extension of CB at F. PAD ~ PBF (A.A.A), BF = .AD = .2 = 1,
AP 2
therefore CF = CB + BF = 3

DF = DC2 + CF2 = 42 + 32 = 5

DC2 16
DE = =
DF 5

 CE 2 = CD2 − DE 2

256 144
= 16 − =
25 25
12
 CE =
5
M2
Join CP

1 8 1 4
 DCP  = 8 −  2 −  2
2 3 2 3
[DCP] = 4
2
 8  10
DP 22 +   =
3 3

1
 DCP  = DP  EC = 4
2
12
 EC =
5

15 Given that three congruent squares ABEG; GEFH; HFCD are of side a. Prove that
AFE + ACE = 45°
Solution:

AD || BC  AFE = HAF, it suffices to show ACE = FAE, and for this we show that
ACE ~ FAE below.

AE = 2a = 2.EF and

CE = 2a = 2 EA,

Besides AEC = FEA

 ACE ~ FAE. (S.A.S)