Right Triangles and

Similarities in Right
Triangles
Competencies
M9GE-IIIg-h-1: prove the conditions for similarity of triangles using
the 1.4 Right Triangle Similarity Theorem
M9GE-IIIi-2: prove the Pythagorean Theorem and the Special
Right Triangle Theorem
 Similarity in Right Triangles
Right Triangle - a triangle in which one of the interior angles is 90°.
B

A C

Hypotenuse - side opposite the right angle

Similarity in Right Triangles
B

A C
D

Altitude – segment drawn from the 900 angle to the opposite side
- a perpendicular drawn from the vertex of a triangle to
the opposite side
- also known as the height of the triangle
Right Triangle Similarity Theorem – In any right triangle, the
altitude drawn to the hypotenuse divides the triangle into two right triangles,
which are similar to each other and to the original right triangle.
Right Triangle Similarity Theorem
Consider the right triangle PQR with right angle at < PQR. Q

If 𝑄𝑆 is the altitude to the hypotenuse 𝑃𝑅 , two new right triangles

are formed namely QSR and QSP. P 300 R
S
✓ Given the measure of QRP, find out if the 3 triangles are similar and if ever write a similarity
statement.
Solution:
The 3 triangles formed are PQR, QSR and QSP.
If m< R = 300 , then m< RQS = 600 - sum of all angles of a triangle is 1800
m< PQS = 300 - complementary to <RQS.
m< P = 600 - sum of all angles of a triangle is 1800
PQR, QSR and QSP are right angles - given
Based from the angle measures, the three triangles are similar. Aligning the congruent
angles of the three triangles, we can say that PQR ~ QSR ~ PSQ
Special Properties of Right Triangles
B
The length of the altitude of
the right triangle is the
geometric mean between
alt
the segments of the
hypotenuse.
A C
seg1 D seg2

𝒔𝒆𝒈𝟏 𝒂𝒍𝒕
=
𝒂𝒍𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒈𝟐
In other words, the altitude is the
𝒂𝒍𝒕 = 𝒔𝒆𝒈𝟏 ∙ 𝒔𝒆𝒈𝟐 positive square root of the
product of the 2 segments.
 Example
Find the length of the altitude. B

𝒔𝒆𝒈𝟏 𝒂𝒍𝒕
=
𝒂𝒍𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒈𝟐
x

𝒂𝒍𝒕 = 𝒔𝒆𝒈𝟏 ∙ 𝒔𝒆𝒈𝟐

Solution: A 3 C
D 6
Let x be the altitude.
𝟑 𝒙 𝒙 = 𝟑(𝟔)
=
𝒙 𝟔 𝒙 = 𝟏𝟖
𝒙𝟐 = 𝟑(𝟔) or
𝒙𝟐 = 𝟏𝟖 𝒙= 𝟗∙𝟐
𝒙 =𝟑 𝟐 𝒙 =𝟑 𝟐
Special Properties of Right Triangles
B
Each leg of the right triangle is
leg2
the geometric mean between
leg
the hypotenuse and the
segment of the hypotenuse
adj adj2 adjacent to the leg.
A C
D
hypotenuse

𝒉𝒚𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒈 𝒉𝒚𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒈𝟐

= =
𝒍𝒆𝒈 𝒂𝒅𝒋 𝒍𝒆𝒈𝟐 𝒂𝒅𝒋𝟐

𝒍𝒆𝒈 = 𝒉𝒚𝒑 ∙ 𝒂𝒅𝒋 𝒍𝒆𝒈𝟐 = 𝒉𝒚𝒑 ∙ 𝒂𝒅𝒋𝟐

leg = positive square root of the product of the hypotenuse and the segment adjacent to that leg
 Example 1
Find the length of the leg.
2
hypotenuse leg
=
leg adj y 5

𝑙𝑒𝑔 = ℎ𝑦𝑝 ∙ 𝑎𝑑𝑗

Solution:
Let y be the leg. hypotenuse = 2 + 5
𝟐+𝟓 𝒚 𝒚= 7∙2
= or - the segment adjacent to y has a length of 2 units
𝒚 𝟐
𝒚 = 𝟏𝟒
𝟕 𝒚
=
𝒚 𝟐
𝒚𝟐 = 𝟕(2)
𝒚𝟐 = 𝟏𝟒
𝒚 = 𝟏𝟒
 Example 2
B Solve for x. Solve for y.
Given: altitude = 6 Given: AD = 2
y AD = 2, CD = 18 (previously solved)
6 CD = x, (hyp)AC = 2 + 18 = 20
Both AD and CD are parts of the y = leg
A C segments of the hypotenuse Since y is a leg, CD is the
2 D x segment adjacent to it and AC
use, 𝒂𝒍𝒕 = 𝒔𝒆𝒈𝟏 ∙ 𝒔𝒆𝒈𝟐 the hypotenuse,
𝟔 = 𝟐𝒙 use, 𝑙𝑒𝑔 = ℎ𝑦𝑝 ∙ 𝑎𝑑𝑗
𝑎𝑙𝑡 = 𝑠𝑒𝑔1 ∙ 𝑠𝑒𝑔2 𝟔 𝟐 = 𝟐𝒙
𝟐
𝑦 = 20 ∙ 18
𝟑𝟔 = 𝟐𝒙 𝑦 = 360
𝑙𝑒𝑔 = ℎ𝑦𝑝 ∙ 𝑎𝑑𝑗 𝒙 = 𝟏𝟖 𝒚 = 𝟔 𝟏𝟎
Example 3
B
Given the figure at the right, find the value of ℎ, 𝑚 and 𝑛.
𝒏
𝑎𝑙𝑡 = 𝑠𝑒𝑔1 ∙ 𝑠𝑒𝑔2 𝒎 ℎ

𝑙𝑒𝑔 = ℎ𝑦𝑝 ∙ 𝑎𝑑𝑗 A 4 D 9

C

Solution: (Use the special properties of right triangles)

𝟒 𝒉 𝟏𝟑 𝒎 𝟏𝟑 𝒏
=𝟗 = =𝟗
𝒉 𝒎 𝟒 𝒏

ℎ2 = 36 𝑚2 = 52 𝑛2 = 117
𝒉=𝟔 𝒎 = 𝟐 𝟏𝟑 𝒏 = 𝟑 𝟏𝟑
or or or
ℎ = 4(9) 𝑚 = 13(4) 𝑛 = 13(9)
ℎ = 36 𝒎 = 𝟐 𝟏𝟑 𝒏 = 𝟑 𝟏𝟑
𝒉 =𝟔
Activity 1 3.

Solve each variable.

1.
B 𝒚
𝒂
4
𝟏𝟎
W
2. Y
4 D b 𝒓

𝒄 𝒚
𝒉

D 9

13
The Pythagorean Theorem
The Pythagorean Theorem - If a triangle is a right triangle, then the sum of
the squares of the lengths of the legs is equal to the square of the hypotenuse.
In symbols, if 𝒂 and 𝒃 are the lengths of the legs of a right triangle and 𝒄 is the
length of the hypotenuse, then 𝒄𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 .

B B

c
leg a

C A C A
leg b
 Proof https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YompsDlEdtc

Given the figure below:

b is the geometric mean between c and e that comes
𝒄 𝒃
from the proportion = .
𝒃 𝒆
a is the geometric mean between c and d that comes
𝒄 𝒂
from the proportion = .
𝒂 𝒅
𝒄 𝒃 𝒄 𝒂
Using the proportions = = , let us derive an equation that
and
𝒃 𝒆 𝒅 𝒂
relates a, b and c which are actually the sides of a right triangle.
𝒄 𝒃 𝒄 𝒂
If = , then 𝒃𝟐 = 𝒄𝒆 and if = , then 𝒂𝟐 = 𝒄𝒅
𝒃 𝒆 𝒂 𝒅
𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 = 𝒄𝒅 + 𝒄𝒆 - use the Addition Property of Equality
𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 = 𝒄(𝒆 + 𝒅) - factor the right side of the equation
𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 = 𝒄(𝒄) - by substitution
𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 = 𝒄𝟐 - simplify
Example 1
Determine if the following sets of numbers could be the lengths of the
sides of a right triangle.
1. 3, 4, 5 2. 3, 5, 7
Using the formula 𝒄𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 , let us substitute the given values.
1. let a = 3, b = 4 and c = 5 2. let a = 3, b = 5 and c = 7
32 +42 = 52 32 +52 = 72
9 + 16 = 25 9 + 25 = 49
25 = 25 34 = 49
This yield a true statement, This is NOT a true statement
therefore 3, 4 and 5 could be sides therefore, the given couldn’t be
of a right triangle. sides of a right triangle
Example 2
Solve the missing side of each right triangle using the Pythagorean Theorem.

b
c
5
10
26
12
Find the length of the diagonal of the rectangle:
15"

8"
Activity 2
A. Determine if the following sets of numbers could be the lengths of the
sides of a right triangle.
1. 5, 12, 13 2. 8, 15, 16 3. 1, 1, 2
B. Solve the missing side of each right triangle using the Pythagorean
Theorem.
b
1. 2.
c 20
7 29

24
C. A man starts jogging 700 m due north and then 600 m due west. How far
is he from the starting point?
Special Right Triangles
There are two types of Special Right triangles.
The isosceles right triangle, which is also called
the 450- 450- 900 triangle, and the 300- 600- 900
triangle.

450 450 600 300

Isosceles Right Triangle Theorem
(450-450-900 Right Triangle Theorem)
In an isosceles right triangle, the length of the hypotenuse is
equal to 2 times the length of any of the legs.
A
Given an isosceles right 𝐴𝐵𝐶 with right angle at 𝐶.
Each acute angle of the triangle measures 450
450
and both legs have the same measure, 𝑎. a 𝒂 𝟐
Solving for the hypotenuse, we use the Pythagorean Theorem.
0
𝑎2 +𝑏2 = 𝑐 2 - apply the Pythagorean Theorem. 45
C B
𝑎2 + 𝑎2 = 𝑐 2 - by substitution, since 𝑎 = 𝑏 a
2
2𝑎 = 𝑐 2 - combining similar term
𝑐 = 2𝑎2 - solve for 𝑐
𝒄 =𝒂 𝟐 - simplify
This shows that the hypotenuse is equal to 𝟐 times the length of any leg of an
isosceles right triangle. From this, the leg is equal to hypotenuse divided by 𝟐.
Hints for 450-450-900
• Leg to Hypotenuse: MULTIPLY leg by 2

• Hypotenuse to Leg: DIVIDE hypotenuse by 2

leg hypotenuse = 𝒍𝒆𝒈( 𝟐 )

𝒉𝒚𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒔𝒆
leg =
𝟐
Example 1
Which set of measurements could be the sides of an isosceles right triangle? Justify
your answer.
1. 3 2, 3 2, 6 2 2. 5 2, 5 2, 10
Using the Isosceles Right Triangle Theorem, check whether the measurement of
the hypotenuse is equal to 2 times the length of the leg.

? ?
1. 6 2 = ( 2)(3 2) 2. 10 = ( 2)(5 2)
? ?
= 3( 4) = 5( 4)
? ?
= 3(2) = 5(2)
𝟔 𝟐≠𝟔 10 = 10
It is clear that the set of lengths in number 2 could be the sides of an isosceles right
triangle based from the Isosceles Right Triangle Theorem.
Example 2
Find the value of x.
Activity 3
Refer to the figure at the right.

A
1. a = 8, c = ______

2. a = 15, c = ______ 450

x 8
3. c = 10, b = ______

4. c = 𝟔 𝟐, a = ______
450
C B
5. b = 𝟏𝟓 𝟐, c = ______
300-600-900 Triangle Theorem
In a 300-600-900 right triangle, the length of the hypotenuse
is twice the length of the shorter leg and the length of the
longer leg is 3 times the length of the shorter leg.

How do you know which is the shorter leg and which is the
longer leg???
• The hypotenuse is directly across from the 90O angle.
• The shorter leg is across from the smaller angle (30o)
• The longer leg is across from the larger angle (60O)
300-600-900 Triangle Theorem

30o

Hypotenuse
Longer Leg

60o

Shorter Leg
300-600-900 Triangle Theorem
Given right triangle 𝐴𝐶𝐵, where 𝑚 < 𝐴 = 600, 𝑚 < 𝐵 = 300 and
B
the shorter leg, 𝐴𝐶 has length 𝑥. Draw 𝐵𝐷 such that
2𝑥
𝑚 < 𝐶𝐵𝐷 = 300 = 𝑚 < 𝐶𝐵𝐴. We now have an equilateral 𝒙 𝟑
triangle 𝐴𝐵𝐷 hence 𝐴𝐵 = 𝐵𝐷 = 𝐴𝐷. If 𝐴𝐶 = 𝑥, then D
A 𝑥 C
𝐴𝐷 = 𝐴𝐵 = 2𝑥. Solving for 𝐵𝐶,
𝐴𝐶 2 +𝐵𝐶 2 = 𝐴𝐵2 - apply the Pythagorean Theorem.
𝑥 2 +𝐵𝐶 2 = (2𝑥)2 - by substitution, since 𝐴𝐶 = 𝑥 and 𝐴𝐵 = 2𝑥
𝐵𝐶 2 = 4𝑥 2 - 𝑥 2 - by APE
𝐵𝐶 2 = 3𝑥 2 - simplify
𝐵𝐶 = 𝒙 𝟑 - solve for BC
So AC = x, 𝐴𝐵 = 2𝑥 and 𝐵𝐶 = 𝒙 𝟑

The preceding statement shows that in a 300-600-900 right triangle, the hypotenuse is
twice the shorter leg, while the longer leg is 3 times the shorter leg.
 Hints for 300-600-900
• Shorter Leg to Hypotenuse: MULTIPLY shorter leg by 2 30o
hypotenuse = 2(shorter leg)
longer leg = shorter( 𝟑)
• Hypotenuse to Shorter Leg: DIVIDE hypotenuse by 2
60o
𝒉𝒚𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒔𝒆
shorter leg =
𝟐

• Shorter Leg to Longer Leg: MULTIPLY shorter leg by 𝟑 =

𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒈
𝟑

• Longer Leg to Shorter Leg: DIVIDE longer leg by 𝟑

Example 1
Fill in the missing length so that each set of measures will be the sides of
a 300-600-900 right triangle. Let a be the shortest side, b the longer side
and c the longest side or hypotenuse.
1. a = 2, b = ____, c =______ 2. a =____, b =_____, c = 10
Solution:
Solve using the 300-600-900 Triangle Theorem, where the hypotenuse is twice the shorter
leg and the longer leg is 3 times the shorter leg.
𝟏𝟎
1. 𝒃 = 𝟐 𝟑 2. 𝒂 =
𝟐
𝑐 =2 𝑎 𝒂= 𝟓
𝑐 = 2 2 𝑏 =𝑎 𝟑
𝒄=𝟒 𝑏 =5 𝟑
Example 2
Find the values of x and y.
Activity 4
A. Fill in the missing length so that each set of measures will be the sides
of a 300-600-900 right triangle. Let a be the shortest side, b the longer
side and c the longest side or hypotenuse.
1. a = 8, b = ____, c =______ 2. a =____, b =_____, c = 22
B. Find the values of x and y.

30o 30o
12 𝟑
x y
y

60o 60o

x 𝟖
Thank you…