EUCLIDIAN GEOMETRY & SIMILAR TRIANGLES

Important facts and theorems:

01. If two figures are given, having the same shape but not necessarily the same size then, they are called the
similar figures.
02. All the congruent figures are similar but the converse is not necessarily true.
03. Two polygons of the same number of sides are similar, if
a) their corresponding angles are equal and
b) their corresponding sides are in the same ratio.
04. Similar triangles: Two triangles are said to be similar, if their corresponding angles are equal and their
corresponding sides are proportional i.e., the corresponding sides are in the same ratio.
05. Criterion for Similarity:
a) . . . A A A Similarity
, ABC PQR when A P B Q and C R A A Z = Z Z = Z Z = Z
b) . . A A Similarity
ABC PQR when A P and B Q A A Z = Z Z = Z
c) . . . S A S Similarity

AB CA
ABC PQR when A P and
PQ RP
A A Z = Z =
d) . . . S S S Similarity

AB BC CA
ABC PQR when
PQ QR RP
A A = = .
06.
#
Basic Proportionality Theorem (B.P.T. or Thales Theorem): If a line is drawn parallel to one side of
a triangle to intersect the other two sides in distinct points, the other two sides are divided in the same ratio.
GIVEN: A ABC A in which DE BC , and DE intersects AB in D and AC in E.
TO PROVE:
AD AE
DB EC
= .
CONSTRUCTION: Join , BE CD and draw EN BA and DM CA .

PROOF: As EN BA , therefore EN is the height of the triangles ADE and DBE.
Now, ( ) ( )
1
2
ar ADE AD EN = | ( )
1
2
Area of Base Height A =
and, ( ) ( )
1
2
ar DBE DB EN =

( )
( )
( )
( )
1
2
...( )
1
2
AD EN
ar ADE AD
i
ar DBE DB
DB EN

= =

Similarly, ( ) ( )
1
2
ar ADE AE DM = and ( ) ( )
1
2
ar DEC EC DM =
(By OP Gupta 9650 350 480)
MATHEMATICIA / Class X OP GUPTA (9650 350 480)


- 2 -

( )
( )
( )
( )
1
2
...( )
1
2
AE DM
ar ADE AE
ii
ar DEC EC
EC DM

= =

Since DBE A and DEC A are on the same base DE and between the same parallels DE and BC.
( ) ( ) ...( ) ar DEC ar DBE iii =
By (i), (ii) and (iii), we get

AD AE
DB EC
= . H.P.
Remarks: a) 1 1
AD AE AD AE AB AC
DB EC DB EC DB EC
= + = + =
b) 1 1
AD AE DB EC DB EC AB AC
DB EC AD AE AD AE AD AE
= = + = + = .
07. Converse of Thales Theorem: If a line divides any two sides of a triangle in the same ratio, then the
line is parallel to the third side.
08.
#
The ratio of the areas of two similar triangles is equal to the square of the ratio of their corresponding
sides.
GIVEN: Two triangles ABC and PQR such that ABC PQR A A .
TO PROVE:
( )
( )
2 2
2
ar ABC AB BC CA
ar PQR PQ QR RP
| | | | | |
= = =
| | |
\ . \ . \ .
.
CONSTRUCTION: Draw AL BC and PM QR .
PROOF: In triangles ABL and PQM,
| B Q ABC PQR Z = Z A A
90 L M Z = Z =


So, | ABL PQM AA similarity criterion A A
...( )
AB AL
i
PQ PM
=
Also as | ABC PQR Given A A
...( )
AB BC CA
ii
PQ QR RP
= =
Now ( ) ( )
1
2
ar ABC BC AL = and ( ) ( )
1
2
ar PQR QR PM =
So,
( )
( )
( )
( )
1
2
...( )
1
2
BC AL
ar ABC BC AL
iii
ar PQR QR PM
QR PM

= =

By (i), (ii) and (iii), we get

( )
( )
2
ar ABC AB
ar PQR PQ
| |
=
|
\ .
.
Hence,
( )
( )
2 2
2
ar ABC AB BC CA
ar PQR PQ QR RP
| | | | | |
= = =
| | |
\ . \ . \ .
. H.P.
MATHEMATICAL VIDYAMANDIR / EXPERIENCE THE EXCELLENCE


Notes on Similar Triangles by OP Gupta - 3 -
09. If a perpendicular is drawn from the vertex of the right angle of a right triangle to the hypotenuse then
triangles on both sides of the perpendicular are similar to the whole triangle and to each other.


Here , 90 ABC B A Z =

and BD AC .
We have, , ADB ABC BDC ABC A A A A and ADB BDC A A .
10.
#
Pythagoras Theorem: In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the
square of the other two sides.
GIVEN: A right angled triangle ABC in which 90 B Z =

.
TO PROVE:
2 2 2
AC AB BC = + .
CONSTRUCTION: From the vertex B draw BD AC .

PROOF: In triangles ABC and ADB, we have
90 ABC ADB Z = Z =


and | A A Common Z = Z
So, | ABC ADB AA similarity criterion A A

AB AC
AD AB
=

2
...( ) AB AD AC i =
Now in triangles ABC and BDC, we have
90 ABC CDB Z = Z =


and | C C Common Z = Z
So, | ABC BDC AA similarity criterion A A

BC AC
DC BC
=

2
...( ) BC DC AC ii =
Adding eqs.(i) and (ii), we get

2 2
AB BC AD AC DC AC + = +
( )
2 2
AB BC AC AD DC + = +

2 2
. AB BC AC AC + =

2 2 2
AB BC AC + =
Hence,
2 2 2
AC AB BC = + . H.P.
11.
#
Converse of Pythagoras Theorem: In a triangle, if square of one side is equal to the sum of the
squares of the other two sides, then the angle opposite to the first side is a right angle.
GIVEN: A triangle ABC in which
2 2 2
AC AB BC = + .
TO PROVE: 90 B Z =

.
CONSTRUCTION: Construct a triangle PQR right angled at Q such that PQ=AB and QR=BC.
MATHEMATICIA / Class X OP GUPTA (9650 350 480)


- 4 -
PROOF: Since triangle PQR is right angled at Q so, we have
|
2 2 2
PR PQ QR Pythagoras Theorem = +
|
2 2 2
...( ) PR AB BC i By construction = +
But |
2 2 2
...( ) AC AB BC ii Given = +
|
2 2
( ) ( ) AC PR Using i and ii =
...( ) AC PR iii =

Now in ABC A and PQR A , we have
| AB PQ By construction =
| BC QR By construction =
and | ( ) AC PR From iii =
| ABC PQR SSS Congruence A ~ A
Therefore, | . . . . B Q C P C T Z = Z
But | 90 Q By construction Z =


So, 90 B Z =

H.P.
12. Statement of Baudhayan Theorem: The diagonal of a rectangle produces by itself the same area as
produced by its both sides (i.e. length and breadth).
The theorems marked with # are supposed to be learnt properly by you since their proof is
supposed to be asked in the examinations!