2.7.

4 Practice: Modeling: Similarity Theorems Practice

Geometry Honors Name: Lev Crispi
Date: 6/12/24

YOUR ASSIGNMENT: About Face!

Your Peak of Choice

Your friend Tyler is preparing to climb a rock face and wants to figure out how far he
will need to climb to reach one of three different peaks. You remember a trick you
can use to help him out. You realize that if you place a small mirror on the ground
and move it to where Tyler can see the reflection of the peak in the mirror, then the
angles from the mirror to Tyler and from the mirror to the peak are congruent.

Use what you have learned about triangles, the mirror, Tyler, and the peak to find the
height of the peak.

Defining Your Triangles

1. Which peak did you select? (1 point)

Tyler will climb peak b.

1
2. In the drawing below, label the distances given for the peak you chose. (3 points:
1 point for each correct distance)

2 6
0 f
3. According to the information given, what can you determine about the triangles
formed by Tyler, the mirror, and the peak? How do you know the relationship
between the two triangles? (4 points: 2 points for correctly describing the triangles, 2
points for the explanation)

The triangles are congruent because they both have right angles and the angels were there ection is are also congruent.

4. To find the height of the peak, list the corresponding sides and angles of the two
triangles you and Tyler have created. (6 points: 1 point for each pair of sides or
angles)

Corresponding Sides:
PM = TM
PB = TF
BM = FM

Corresponding Angles:
PBM = TFM
PMB = TMF
BMP = FMT

Finding the Height

5. Which segment of the triangle will give you the height of your peak? Write the
equation for the proportion that will allow you to find the height. (2 points: 1 point for
identifying the correct segment, 1 point for the correct equation)

PB is the length of the height of the peak.

PB/TF = BM/FM

6. Use your equation to find how high Tyler will have to climb to scale the peak. (4
points: 2 points for correctly substituting values, 2 points for the correct height)

x/72 = 240/20

20x = 17,280

864 in = 72 ft

Across the Pond

The peak Tyler climbs is at point P on the north end of a pond. After Tyler finishes
his climb, you walk 1600 m from P along a road to an intersection at X. Then you
walk another 600 m along that road to your campsite at C.

Finally, you walk 400 m due north to a restaurant at R to get dinner. While you're
eating, you tell Tyler that you can figure out the distance across the pond from north
to south, PD.

7. Label the drawing with the known distances. (3 points: 1 point for each distance)

Note: Drawing not to scale.

1 6 4
8. What do you know about triangles ΔPDX and ΔCRX? Justify your answer. (3
points: 2 points for the correct conclusion about the triangles, 1 point for the
justification)

If segment PD is parallel to segment CR then triangle PDX is similar to triangle CRX, due to
angle PXD and angle CXR being congruent by the vertical angle theorem, and angle PDX
and angle CRX being congruent by the alternate interior angle theorem, these 2 triangles
are similar by the A.A similarity postulate.

9. Find PD, the north-south distance across the pond. Justify your method. If
necessary, round your answer to the nearest meter. (4 points: 2 points for the
distance, 2 points for the method)

The RC and PD are the same because they are across from each other perfectly. So the
answer is still PD = 400m

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2.7.4 Practice: Modeling: Similarity Theorems