Name _____________________________________________ Period __________

Worksheet 8.1 – Similarity in Right Triangles

For questions 1 – 3, write a similarity statement comparing the three triangles in each diagram.

1. 2. 3.

For questions 4 – 9, find the geometric mean of each pair of numbers. If necessary, give the
answer in simplest radical form.

4. 5 and 45 5. 3 and 15 6. 5 and 8

7. and 80 8. 1.5 and 12 9. and

For questions 10 – 12, find x, y, and z. If necessary, give the answer in simplest radical form.

10. 11. 12.

13. The geometric mean of two numbers is 8. One of the numbers is 2. Find the other number.

14. The geometric mean of two numbers is 2 . One of the numbers is 6. Find the other number.

For questions 15 – 20, use the diagram to complete each question.

15. 16. 17. 18.

19. (?)2 = y(x + y) 20. u2 = (x + y)(?)

For questions 21 – 24, give each answer in simplest radical form.

21. AD = 12 22. AC = 16 23. AD = CD = 24. BC =

CD = 8 CD = 5 Find BD. AC =
Find BD. Find BC. Find CD.
25. The altitude to the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides the hypotenuse into segments that
are 2 cm long and 5 cm long. Find the length of the altitude to the nearest tenth of a
centimeter. Draw a picture.

26.

27.

28.

29.
30. Each leg of a right triangle is 12 inches long. The hypotenuse is 12 inches long. How long is
the altitude from the right angle to the hypotenuse?

31. 32.
x+4
x+9

3 18 8
12

33. 34.
x+7
x–4

45 3 9
25
35. Suppose the rectangle and square have the same area. Explain why s must be the geometric
mean of a and b.

36. Explain why the geometric mean of two perfect squares must be a whole number.