Goals for today:

Define the Geometric Mean of two numbers.

Discuss the relationship to proportions and
triangles.
Practice determining Geometric Means of
triangles.
Learn a helpful strategy.

Geometry
Thursday March 30, 2017
 What is the mean?
How do you find the mean of two numbers?

Multiply them
Add them
Step
Take the square root
Divide by 2
Up

Arithmetic Mean Geometric Mean

 Lets Try it!
Find the Geometric mean for:

5 & 11

16 & 9

14 & 6
 What does this have to do with similarity?
Weve been working a lot with proportions lately.
We can represent the geometric mean as a proportion.

Go back to the first example. Using 5, 11, and x, set up

a proportion such that when you solve it you multiply the
two numbers and take the square root.

Do the same for example 2 and 3!

 And you probably found...
Example 2 Example 3
 Big Idea:
The Geometric mean is the number
that is on the top of one side and on
the bottom of the other side of a
proportion
What types of triangles have we been working with?
Similar! So when we see a
right triangle with an
altitude We think of two
a c
things:
b
Similar triangles and
Geometric Mean.
d e
How many triangles do you
f see in this picture?
 Using the set of triangles do the following:
1. Discuss with your groups how do you know all three
triangles are similar? Use the cut out triangles if you
would like a visual representation.

2. Set up proportions for the three triangles until you

determine the three geometric means
a. REMEMBER: Geometric means occur when the same thing is on
one side and the bottom of the other side of a proportion!!!
b. HINT: Consider the ratios between the corresponding legs o
triangles
C
C

B A D B D A
 What do you notice about the three geometric means?
First, discuss as a group and write down your thoughts!

The three Geometric Means are side lengths that are part of two
different triangles.

For example the short leg of the largest triangle is also the
hypotenuse of the smallest triangle. And the long leg of the
smallest triangle is the short leg of the medium triangle. This
is why we see them in the top of one side and the bottom of the
other side of a proportion.
 LETS GIVE IT A GO!
With respect to the three triangles in the
picture, what is x?
x Its the hypotenuse of the small triangle
Its the short leg of the big triangle

Set up a proportion that represents this!

4 8
 A helpful Strategy you may enjoy!!
THINK: Football! *Always start at the BIG right angle!*

Ball starts at the Big right angle.

c
Offense has three path choices: a
a, b, or c b
THESE ARE YOUR
GEOMETRIC MEANS!

Set up three proportions d e

representing the three geometric
means.
f
 To fill in the missing pieces, we
a c consider the offenses three options:
b What happens if they choose a?
Who is going to tackle them?
Option b?
e Option c?
d

For Example:
 *Start at Big right angle*

Think of your three choices (Geometric Means)

z set up proportions for them!
x
y
To fill in the missing pieces of your proportions,
think: who gets you if you go that way?

5 7
3 x

8 x+3
8 =
x 8
 Have a great day
Homework: Page 361 #31-36; Page 453 #8-10, 13-18