MAKATI SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL

ADDITIONAL MATHEMATICS 8 (GEOMETRY)

Right Triangles

The Right Triangle Similarity Theorem

In a right triangle, the altitude to the hypotenuse divides the triangle into two triangles
each of which is similar to the original triangle. C

Given: In ∆𝐴𝐶𝐵 such that ∠𝐶 is right with 𝐶𝐷 ⊥ 𝐴𝐵.

Prove: ∆𝐴𝐶𝐵~∆𝐴𝐷𝐶~∆𝐶𝐷𝐵

A D B
B
Proof: In right ∆𝐴𝐶𝐵, and right ∆𝐴𝐷𝐶, since ∠𝐴 is a common angle, by AA Corollary
right ∆𝐴𝐶𝐵 ~ right ∆𝐴𝐷𝐶 .
In right ∆𝐴𝐶𝐵, and right ∆𝐶𝐷𝐵, since ∠𝐵 is a common angle, by AA Corollary
right ∆𝐴𝐶𝐵 ~ right ∆𝐶𝐷𝐵 .
Since ∆𝐴𝐶𝐵 ~ ∆𝐴𝐷𝐶 , and ∆𝐴𝐶𝐵 ~ ∆𝐶𝐷𝐵 by transitivity ∆𝐴𝐶𝐵~∆𝐴𝐷𝐶~∆𝐶𝐷𝐵 .
An immediate consequence to the Right Triangle Similarity Theorem is a corollary to it which we
will call the Geometric Mean of Right Triangle Theorem.

Corollary: Geometric Mean Theorem

a. The altitude to the hypotenuse of a right triangle is the geometric mean to the
segments into which it divides the hypotenuse.
b. In a right triangle, each leg is the geometric mean of the hypotenuse and the
segment of the hypotenuse adjacent to the leg.

Given: right ∆𝐴𝐶𝐵 with 𝐶𝐷 ⊥ 𝐴𝐵.

Prove:
𝐶𝐷 𝐴𝐷
a. (𝐶𝐷)2 = (𝐴𝐷 )(𝐷𝐵) 𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝐷 = √(𝐴𝐷)(𝐷𝐵) 𝑜𝑟 = .
𝐷𝐵 𝐶𝐷
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐷
b. (𝐴𝐶)2 = (𝐴𝐷 )(𝐴𝐵) 𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝐷 = √(𝐴𝐷)(𝐴𝐵) 𝑜𝑟 = and
𝐴𝐵 𝐴𝐶
𝐵𝐶 𝐷𝐵
(𝐵𝐶)2 = (𝐷𝐵)(𝐴𝐵) 𝑜𝑟 𝐵𝐶 = √(𝐷𝐵)(𝐴𝐵) 𝑜𝑟 𝐴𝐵
= 𝐵𝐶

Proof:
a. By the Right Triangle Similarity Theorem.
∆𝐴𝐷𝐶~∆𝐶𝐷𝐵 . Since corresponding sides of similar
𝐶𝐷 𝐴𝐷
triangles are proportional, 𝐷𝐵 = 𝐶𝐷. Multiplying the A
means and extremes, we get,
(𝐶𝐷)2 = (𝐴𝐷 )(𝐷𝐵) 𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝐷 = √(𝐴𝐷)(𝐷𝐵)
D
b. By the Right Triangle Similarity Theorem.
∆𝐴𝐷𝐶~∆𝐴𝐶𝐵 and ∆𝐶𝐷𝐵~∆𝐴𝐶𝐵 .
Since corresponding sides of similar triangles
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐷 𝐵𝐶 𝐷𝐵
are proportional, 𝐴𝐵 = 𝐴𝐶 and 𝐴𝐵 = 𝐵𝐶 . B
Multiplying the means and extremes, we get, C
 (𝐴𝐶)2 = (𝐴𝐷 )(𝐴𝐵) 𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝐷 = √(𝐴𝐷)(𝐴𝐵) and
(𝐵𝐶)2 = (𝐷𝐵)(𝐴𝐵) 𝑜𝑟 𝐵𝐶 = √(𝐷𝐵)(𝐴𝐵)

Example 1 Use the figure below to find CD, AC, and BC.
C

A
16 cm D 25 cm
Solution: By Geometric Mean Theorem
(𝐶𝐷)2 = (𝐴𝐷 )(𝐷𝐵) ; (𝐶𝐷)2 = (25)(16) ; 𝐶𝐷 = √(25)(16) ; 𝐶𝐷 = 20 𝑐𝑚
(𝐴𝐶)2 = (𝐴𝐷 )(𝐴𝐵) ; (𝐴𝐶)2 = (25)(41) ; 𝐶𝐷 = √(25)(41) ; 𝐴𝐶 = 5√41 𝑐𝑚
(𝐵𝐶)2 = (𝐷𝐵)(𝐴𝐵) ; (𝐵𝐶)2 = (16)(41) ; 𝐵𝐶 = √(16)(41) ; 𝐵𝐶 = 4√41 𝑐𝑚

Example 2 In right triangle WIN, find the values of x, y and z.

W
x

x+ 7
12
N
I z

Solution: By Geometric Mean Theorem, we have

(12)2 = (𝑥 )(𝑥 + 7) (𝑦)2 = (𝑥 )(2𝑥 + 7) (𝑧)2 = (𝑥 + 7)(2𝑥 + 7)
144 = 𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 𝑦 2 = (9)(25) 𝑧 2 = (16)(25)
𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 144 = 0 𝑦 = √(9)(25) 𝑧 = √(16)(25)
(𝑥 − 9)(𝑥 + 16) = 0 𝑦 = 15 𝑧 = 20
𝑥=9

Example 3 Find all unknown marked segments.

a

e 8
c
6

d b
Solution: By Geometric Mean Theorem,
9
(6)2 = (𝑎)(8) ; 36 = 8𝑎 ; 𝑎 = 2
25
(𝑏)2 = (8)(8 + 𝑎) ; 𝑏2 = (8) ( 2 ) ; 𝑏2 = 100 ; 𝑏 = 10
9 25 225 15
(𝑐)2 = (𝑎)(𝑎 + 8) ; 𝑐 2 = (2) ( 2 ) ; 𝑐 2 = ;𝑐=
4 2
2 15 225 45
(𝑐) = (𝑑 )(𝑏) ; ( 2 )2 = (𝑑 )(10) ; = 10𝑑 ; 𝑑 =
4 8
2 2 45 125 2 5625 75
(𝑒) = (𝑑 )(𝑑 + 𝑏) ; (𝑒) = ( 8 ) ( ) ;𝑒 = ; 𝑒=
8 64 8

PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM

In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to

the sum of the squares of the two legs.

Given: ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 be a right triangle with right angle at C. C

Prove: 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = 𝑐 2
b
a
̅̅̅̅ be the altitude to
Construction: Let 𝐶𝐷
the hypotenuse ̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 .
A B
p D q
c

Proof: Solving for a and b, using Geometric Mean Theorem we have 𝑎2 = 𝑞𝑐 and 𝑏2 = 𝑝𝑐.
By adding the two equation we obtain 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = 𝑞𝑐 + 𝑝𝑐
Factor out c, 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = 𝑐(𝑞 + 𝑝)
Since = 𝑝 + 𝑞 , by substitution we have, 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = 𝑐 2 .

CONVERSE OF PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM

If the sum of the squares of two sides of a triangle is equal to the

square of the third side, then the triangle is a right triangle.

Example 4 Solve the following:

a. Find the area of the given quadrilateral.
b. Given the figure below, find the value of x.

Figure for a Figure for b

 Solution: a. Solving for x and y ; (3)2 + (4)2 = 𝑥 2
9 + 16 = 𝑥 2 ; 25 = 𝑥 2 ; 𝑥 = 5
(𝑦)2 + (1)2 = 𝑥 2 ; 𝑦 2 + 1 = 25
𝑦 2 = 24 ; 𝑦 = 2√6 x
Solving for the area of the quadrilateral,
𝑏 ℎ 𝑏 ℎ
𝐴1 + 𝐴2 = 1 1 + 2 2 y
2 2
(3)(4) (2√6)(1)
𝐴1 + 𝐴2 = + ; 𝐴1 + 𝐴2 = 6 + √6 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠
2 2

b. Solving for y ; (√6)2 + (√14)2 = 𝑦 2

6 + 14 = 𝑦 2 ; 20 = 𝑦 2
Solving for x ; (√5)2 + 𝑥 2 = 𝑦 2
y
5 + 𝑥 2 = 20 ; 𝑥 2 = 15 ; 𝑥 = √15

Example 5 Solve the following:

a. A man travels 1 km due north, 2 km east, 3 km north, and 4 km
east. How far is he from his starting point?
b. The sides of triangle are 6 cm , 9 cm, and 11 cm. Is it a right
triangle? If it is, which side is the hypotenuse?

Solution:
4 km
a. Solving for the distance x,
𝑥 2 = (6)2 + (4)2
𝑥 2 = 36 + 16
𝑥 2 = 52 3 km
𝑥 = 2√13 𝑘𝑚 4 km
2 km x

1 km

6 km

b. (11)2 = (6)2 + (9)2 ; 121 = 36 + 81 ; 121 ≠ 117

(9)2 = (11)2 + (6)2 ; 81 = 121 + 36 ; 81 ≠ 157
(6)2 = (9)2 + (11)2 ; 36 = 81 + 121 ; 36 ≠ 202
The triangle is NOT a right triangle.
NOTE: ***If the square of the length of the longest side of a
triangle is less than the sum of the squares of the lengths
a c of the other two sides, then the triangle is acute.
𝒄𝟐 < 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐

b
.
***If the square of the length of the longest side of a
c triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths
a of the other two sides, then the triangle is right.
𝒄𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐
b ***If the square of the length of the longest side of a
triangle is greater than the sum of the squares of the
c lengths of the other two sides, then the triangle is obtuse.
a
𝒄𝟐 > 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐
b

There are also right triangles whose angle measures are 45° − 45° − 90° 𝑜𝑟
30° − 60° − 90° are referred to as special right triangles. The Pythagorean
Theorem gives us information about the special right triangles.

𝟒𝟓° − 𝟒𝟓° − 𝟗𝟎° TRIANGLE THEOREM

In a 𝟒𝟓° − 𝟒𝟓° − 𝟗𝟎° triangle, the hypotenuse is √𝟐 times as long

as each leg.

45°
x x√2

45°
x
 𝟑𝟎° − 𝟔𝟎° − 𝟗𝟎° TRIANGLE THEOREM

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.

30°
2𝑥
x√3

60°
x
Example 6 Determine whether the triangle with the given side lengths is
acute, right or obtuse.
a. 6 , 8 , 10 d. 6 , 6 , 6√2
b. 8 , 14 , 17 e. 33 , 44 , 55
c. 10 , 24 , 25
Solution:
a. 102 ? 62 + 82 ; 100 ? 36 + 64 ; 100 = 100 ; right
b. 172 ? 82 + 142 ; 289 ? 64 + 196 ; 289 > 260 ; obtuse
c. 252 ? 102 + 242 ; 625 ? 100 + 576 ; 625 < 676 ; acute
d. (6√2)2 ? 62 + 62 ; 72 ? 36 + 36 ; 72 = 72 ; right
e. 552 ? 332 + 442 ; 3025 ? 1089 + 1936 ; 3025 = 3025 ; right

Example 7 Find the length of the unknown sides.

a. 𝑎 b.
45°
h
𝑏 𝑐 6
8 f

45° 45° 60° 30°

𝑑 e g
Solution:
a. Using 𝟒𝟓° − 𝟒𝟓° − 𝟗𝟎° Triangle Theorem 8
a. 8 45°
b. 8√2
8 8√2 8√2
c. 8√2
d. 16
45° 45°
8 8
 b. Using 𝟑𝟎° − 𝟔𝟎° − 𝟗𝟎° Triangle Theorem
e. 3
60°
f. 3√3 30°
6√3
6
g. 9 3√3
h. 6√3 3
60° 30°
3 3√6
Example 8 Parallelogram ABCD is made up of four equilateral triangles of
side length 1 cm. Find the length of diagonal AC.

Solution:
From C, we draw a line perpendicular to AD extended so
that they meet at point E as shown in the diagram.
This construction makes ΔCDE a 30° – 60° – 90°
triangle with ∠CDE = 60° and CD = 1. 60° 30°
√3 1 1
Thus, CE = and DE = . 1 √3/2
2 2
Using Pythagorean Theorem in Δ ACE, 60° 60° 60°
5 √3 1 1 1/2 𝐸
we have AE = 2 and CE = 2
2
5 2 √3
AC = √(2) + ( 2 ) = √7𝑐𝑚

EXERCISES:
Directions: Solve the following problems.
A. For items 1 – 4 In the figure below, CD is the altitude to hypotenuse, AB .
C
a b
h
B q A
P D
c
_____1. If p = 2, and q = 6, find a.
_____2. If p = 4 and a = 6, find c.
_____3. If p = 16, h = 18 find q.
_____4. If b = 12 and q = 6, find h.

B. For numbers 5 to 10. A triangle has sides of the given lengths. Is it acute, right, or obtuse?
5. 9, 40, 41
6. 6, 7,8
7. 8, 14, 17
8. 7, 8, 11
9. 1, 4, 6
10. 11, 11, 15
C. For numbers 11 to 26, complete the table using the given figures.

a 11._____ √𝟑 15._____ 17._____

45°
b 8 13._____ 𝟔√𝟐 18._____ c
a
c 12._____ 14._____ 16._____ 5
45°
b

x 19._____ 𝟒√𝟑 23._____ 25._____

30°
y 12 21._____ 26._____ 𝑧
𝟓√𝟐
x
z 20._____ 22._____ 24._____ 18
60°
y

C. Directions: Answer the following exercises.

1. In right Δ ACB, ̅̅̅̅
𝐶𝐷 is the altitude to AB. What is the length of ̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐶 if ̅̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐷 = 9 cm and ̅̅̅̅
𝐷𝐵 = 6 cm?

2. The altitude to the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides the hypotenuse into segments of length 10√3cm and
2√7 cm. Find the length of the altitude and the legs of the triangle.

3. The lengths of the legs of a right triangle are 12 and 7. Find the length of the altitude to the hypotenuse of the
right triangle.

4. The altitude to the hypotenuse of a right ∆ is 8m long. If the lengths of the segments of the hypotenuse are
represented by y and 4y, find the length of the hypotenuse.

̅̅̅̅ as the altitude to the hypotenuse , ̅̅̅̅

5. ABC is a right ∆ with, 𝐶𝐷 𝐴𝐵. If AC = 20 and AB = 25,
find AD, CD, and BC.

6. In right ∆XYZ, the right ∠ is at Z and the altitude from Z meets the hypotenuse at F.
If ZF = 6, XF = 3, and FY = x – 3, find x.

7. ̅̅̅̅
𝐶𝐷 is the altitude to the hypotenuse of right ∆ABC. If AC = 6, AD = 3, and BD = x, write a proportion that can
be used to find x. Solve the proportion for x.

8. Find the length of the altitude to the hypotenuse of a right triangle whose legs and hypotenuse measure 5cm,
12cm, and 13cm respectively.
9. The altitude to the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 8cm. It separates the hypotenuse in the ratio 16 to 1. What is
the length of each segment of the hypotenuse?

10. The sides of a triangle have lengths 𝑥, 𝑥 + 4, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 20. Specify those values of x for which the triangle is acute
with the longest side 20.

11. The perimeter of a rhombus is 64 and one of its angles has measure 120. Find the lengths of the diagonals.

12. In quadrilateral QRST, 𝑚∠𝑅 = 60. 𝑚∠𝑇 = 90, 𝑄𝑅 = 𝑅𝑆, 𝑆𝑇 = 𝑇𝑄 = 8.

D. Directions: Solve the following problems.

1. In a right triangle, the altitude to a 6-ft hypotenuse bisects the hypotenuse. Find the length of the altitude and
each leg.

2. In equilateral triangle ABC with side 16. If AD ⊥ BC and AE ≅ ED,

then BE = ?

3. A car travels North for 4 miles, then West for 6 miles, and then South West for 2 miles. How
many miles is the car from its starting point?

4. The perimeter of a right triangle is 42 and the sum of the squares of its sides is 722. Determine
the area of the right triangle.

5. What is the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle that has an area of 40 and its
longest leg has length b ?

6. A 25 foot ladder is placed against a vertical wall of a building. The foot of the ladder is
7 feet from the base of the building. If the top of the ladder slips 4 feet, then the foot of the ladder will slide
________.

7. In the right triangle shown, the sum of distances BM and MA is equal

to the sum of distances BC and CA. If MB = x, CB = h and
CA = d, then x equals ________.
8. Judi leans a 25 m ladder against a vertical wall with the bottom of the ladder 7 m from the wall. As she pulls the
bottom of the ladder away from the wall, the top of the ladder slides 4 m down the wall. How far did she
pull the bottom of the ladder from its original position?

9. The sides of a right triangle are 3 ft., 4 ft., and 5 ft. in length. A point is taken on the hypotenuse at a
distance of 2 ft. from the vertex adjacent to the 4 ft. side. Find the distance from this point to the vertex of the
right angle.

10. In triangle ABC with right angle at C, altitude CH and median CM trisect the right angle. If the area of
triangle CHM is K, what is the area of triangle ABC?

11. ABCD is an isosceles trapezoid with AB = CD. What is the length of segment AB?
B 18cm C

A 36cm 60o D
12. In the same figure and given, what is the length of diagonal AC.

13. In the figure shown . ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 and ∆𝐵𝐷𝐴 are both right angles, and
AC = x, BD = y, AB = v, BC = w. If v + w = 35 and x + y = 37,
then what is the value of y ?

14.

15. Find the values of x, y and z x+1 x

y x+1
z