U LT I M AT E E D I T I O N

TRIANGLE GEOMETRY
MASTERBOOK
All 53 Core & Advanced Concepts with Solved Numerical Examples

PREPARED FOR SAIF | SSC CGL & CHSL ADVANCED MATHEMATICS

Triangle Geometry Masterbook | Saif Page 1

 1. ANGLES & SIDES (THE BASICS)

1. Angle Sum Property

Rule: A + B + C = 180° in any Euclidean triangle.

Example: In ΔABC, angles are in ratio 2:3:4. Find the largest angle.
Solution: 2x+3x+4x = 180° → 9x = 180° → x = 20°. Largest angle = 4(20°) = 80°.

2. Exterior Angle Theorem

Rule: Exterior angle equals sum of two opposite interior angles.

Example: Side BC is extended to D. If ∠A = 50° and ∠B = 60°, find exterior angle

∠ACD.
Solution: ∠ACD = 50° + 60° = 110°.

3. Triangle Inequality (Sum Rule)

Rule: Sum of any two sides must exceed the third side (a + b > c).

Example: Can a triangle have sides 3 cm, 4 cm, and 8 cm?

Solution: 3 + 4 = 7, which is NOT greater than 8. Hence, invalid.

4. Triangle Inequality (Difference Rule)

Rule: Difference between any two sides is less than the third side (|a - b| < c).

Example: Two sides are 7 cm and 12 cm. Find range for third side x.
Solution: 12 - 7 < x < 12 + 7 → 5 < x < 19.

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 5. Classification by Sides and Squares
Rule: For longest side c: Acute: a²+b² > c²; Right: a²+b² = c²; Obtuse: a²+b² < c².

Example: Classify a triangle with sides 6 cm, 8 cm, and 11 cm.

Solution: 6² + 8² = 36 + 64 = 100. 11² = 121. Since 100 < 121, it is an obtuse triangle.

2. UNIVERSAL RULES & THEOREMS

6. Sine Rule
Rule: a / sin(A) = b / sin(B) = c / sin(C) = 2R.

Example: If side a = 10 cm and ∠A = 30°, find circumradius R.

Solution: 10 / sin(30°) = 2R → 10 / 0.5 = 20 = 2R → R = 10 cm.

7. Cosine Rule
Rule: c² = a² + b² - 2ab cos(C).

Example: AB = 5 cm, AC = 8 cm, ∠A = 60°. Find BC.

Solution: BC² = 5² + 8² - 2(5)(8)cos(60°) = 25 + 64 - 40 = 49 → BC = 7 cm.

8. Basic Proportionality Theorem (Thales)

Rule: Line parallel to one side divides others proportionally (AD/DB = AE/EC).

Example: If AD = 2, DB = 4, AE = 3, find EC.

Solution: 2/4 = 3/EC → EC = (3 × 4) / 2 = 6 cm.

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 9. Mid-point Theorem
Rule: Line joining midpoints of two sides is parallel to and half the third side.

Example: Outer triangle perimeter is 50 cm. Find inner triangle perimeter formed by
midpoints.
Solution: Inner perimeter = 50 / 2 = 25 cm.

10. Interior Angle Bisector Theorem

Rule: Angle bisector divides opposite base in ratio of adjacent sides (AB/AC = BD/DC).

Example: AB = 6, AC = 9, BC = 15. Find BD.

Solution: BD/DC = 6/9 = 2/3. BD = (2/5) × 15 = 6 cm.

11. Exterior Angle Bisector Theorem

Rule: External bisector divides extended base proportionally (AB/AC = BD/CD).

Example: AB = 8, AC = 6, BC = 4. Find CD.

Solution: 8/6 = (4+CD)/CD → 4CD = 3(4+CD) → CD = 12 cm.

12. Apollonius’s Theorem

Rule: AB² + AC² = 2(AD² + BD²) for median AD.

Example: AB = 6, AC = 8, BC = 10. Find median AD.

Solution: 6² + 8² = 2(AD² + 5²) → 100 = 2(AD² + 25) → AD = 5 cm.

13. Stewart’s Theorem

Rule: b²m + c²n = a(d² + mn) for cevian length d splitting base a into m and n.

Example: Base a = 10 split into m=4, n=6. Sides b=8, c=6. Find cevian d.
Solution: 8²(4) + 6²(6) = 10(d² + 24) → 256 + 216 = 10d² + 240 → d = 4.86 cm.

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 14. Ceva’s Theorem
Rule: (AF/FB) × (BD/DC) × (CE/EA) = 1 for concurrent cevians.

Example: If AF/FB = 2/3 and BD/DC = 3/4, find CE/EA.

Solution: (2/3) × (3/4) × (CE/EA) = 1 → (1/2) × (CE/EA) = 1 → CE/EA = 2/1.

3. AREA & GENERAL MENSURATION

15. Standard Area Formula

Rule: Area = 1/2 × Base × Height.

Example: Base = 12 cm, Height = 8 cm. Find Area.

Solution: Area = 1/2 × 12 × 8 = 48 cm².

16. Heron's Formula

Rule: Area = √(s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)) where s = (a+b+c)/2.

Example: Sides 13, 14, 15. Find Area.

Solution: s = 21. Area = √(21 × 8 × 7 × 6) = 84 cm².

17. Sine Area Formula

Rule: Area = 1/2 ab sin(C).

Example: Sides 10 cm and 12 cm with included angle 30°. Find Area.

Solution: Area = 1/2 × 10 × 12 × sin(30°) = 60 × 0.5 = 30 cm².

18. Universal Inradius Formula

Rule: r = Area / s.

Example: Area = 84 cm², Semi-perimeter s = 21 cm. Find r.

Solution: r = 84 / 21 = 4 cm.

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 19. Universal Circumradius Formula
Rule: R = abc / (4 × Area).

Example: Sides 13, 14, 15 with Area = 84. Find R.

Solution: R = (13 × 14 × 15) / (4 × 84) = 2730 / 336 = 8.125 cm.

4. RIGHT-ANGLED TRIANGLES

20. Pythagorean Triplets

Rule: a² + b² = c² (e.g., 3-4-5, 5-12-13, 7-24-25).

Example: Legs are 10 cm and 24 cm. Find hypotenuse.

Solution: Scaled from 5-12-13 triplet by factor of 2 → Hypotenuse = 26 cm.

21. Right Inradius Shortcut

Rule: r = (P + B - H) / 2.

Example: Right triangle legs 9, 40, hypotenuse 41. Find r.

Solution: r = (9 + 40 - 41) / 2 = 8 / 2 = 4 cm.

22. Right Circumradius Shortcut

Rule: R = H / 2.

Example: Right triangle hypotenuse is 25 cm. Find R.

Solution: R = 25 / 2 = 12.5 cm.

23. Perpendicular Drop Length

Rule: p = (P × B) / H from 90° corner to hypotenuse.

Example: Right triangle legs 6, 8, hypotenuse 10. Find p.

Solution: p = (6 × 8) / 10 = 4.8 cm.

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 24. Perpendicular Inverse Rule
Rule: 1/p² = 1/P² + 1/B².

Example: Perpendicular legs are 3 cm and 4 cm. Find drop altitude p.

Solution: 1/p² = 1/3² + 1/4² = 1/9 + 1/16 = 25/144 → p² = 144/25 → p = 2.4 cm.

5. EQUILATERAL & ISOSCELES TRIANGLES

25. Equilateral Area

Rule: Area = (√3 / 4) a².

Example: Side length = 8 cm. Find Area.

Solution: Area = (√3 / 4) × 8² = 16√3 cm².

26. Equilateral Height

Rule: h = (√3 / 2) a.

Example: Side length = 10 cm. Find height h.

Solution: h = (√3 / 2) × 10 = 5√3 cm.

27. Equilateral Radii Ratio

Rule: R : r = 2 : 1.

Example: Inradius of an equilateral triangle is 3 cm. Find circumradius R.

Solution: R = 2 × 3 = 6 cm.

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 28. Interior Point Perpendiculars Sum

Rule: p₁ + p₂ + p₃ = h.

Example: Perpendiculars from interior point are 2, 3, 4 cm. Find equilateral triangle height
h.
Solution: h = 2 + 3 + 4 = 9 cm.

29. Isosceles Height

Rule: h = 1/2 √(4a² - b²) for equal sides a and base b.

Example: Equal sides = 10 cm, base = 12 cm. Find height h.

Solution: h = 1/2 √(4(10)² - 12²) = 1/2 √(400 - 144) = 1/2 √256 = 8 cm.

6. CENTERS & GEOMETRY RULES

30. Centroid Properties

Rule: Medians intersect in 2:1 ratio; divides triangle into 6 equal areas.

Example: Median length = 15 cm. Find distance from vertex to centroid.

Solution: Distance = (2/3) × 15 = 10 cm.

31. Incenter Angle Property

Rule: ∠BIC = 90° + (∠A / 2).

Example: In ΔABC, ∠A = 60°. Find ∠BIC where I is incenter.

Solution: ∠BIC = 90° + (60° / 2) = 90° + 30° = 120°.

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 32. Circumcenter Angle Property
Rule: ∠BOC = 2∠A.

Example: In ΔABC, ∠A = 40°. Find ∠BOC where O is circumcenter.

Solution: ∠BOC = 2 × 40° = 80°.

33. Orthocenter Angle Property

Rule: ∠BOC = 180° - ∠A.

Example: In ΔABC, ∠A = 50°. Find ∠BHC where H is orthocenter.

Solution: ∠BHC = 180° - 50° = 130°.

34. Euler Line

Rule: H, G, O are collinear with HG : GO = 2 : 1.

Example: Distance from Orthocenter to Centroid (HG) = 6 cm. Find distance from
Centroid to Circumcenter (GO).
Solution: GO = HG / 2 = 6 / 2 = 3 cm.

35. Distance Between Incenter & Circumcenter

Rule: d = √(R(R - 2r)).

Example: Circumradius R = 10 cm, Inradius r = 4 cm. Find d.

Solution: d = √(10(10 - 2(4))) = √(10 × 2) = √20 ≈ 4.47 cm.

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 7. SIMILARITY & SPEED SHORTCUTS

36. Similarity Area Ratio

Rule: A₁ / A₂ = (S₁ / S₂)².

Example: Side ratio of two similar triangles is 2:3. Smaller area = 20 cm². Find larger
area.
Solution: 20 / A₂ = (2/3)² = 4/9 → A₂ = 45 cm².

37. Equal Area Split Ratio

Rule: Parallel line splitting triangle into equal areas has top-to-total ratio 1/√2.

Example: Total triangle height is 10 cm. Parallel line splits area 1:1. Find top height.
Solution: Top height = 10 / √2 = 5√2 cm.

38. Mass Point Geometry

Rule: Assign vertex weights to balance seesaws: m₁d₁ = m₂d₂.

Example: Side BD:DC = 2:3. Balance weights at B and C.

Solution: Weight at B = 3, Weight at C = 2 (inverse ratio to balance).

8. THE EXCENTER (THE 5TH CENTER)

39. Excenter Angle Property

Rule: ∠BEC = 90° - (∠A / 2) for external bisectors of B and C.

Example: In ΔABC, ∠A = 60°. Find exterior excenter angle ∠BEC.

Solution: ∠BEC = 90° - (60° / 2) = 90° - 30° = 60°.

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 40. Exradius Formula
Rule: r_a = Area / (s - a).

Example: Area = 60 cm², Semi-perimeter s = 12 cm, side a = 7 cm. Find exradius r_a.
Solution: r_a = 60 / (12 - 7) = 60 / 5 = 12 cm.

9. ADVANCED MEDIAN THEOREMS

41. Area via Medians

Rule: Area = 4/3 × Heron's area using medians as sides.

Example: Medians are 3, 4, 5 cm. Find triangle area.

Solution: Median triangle is right-angled (area = 1/2 × 3 × 4 = 6). Original area = 4/3 × 6 =
8 cm².

42. Sum of Squares Rule

Rule: 3(a² + b² + c²) = 4(m₁² + m₂² + m₃²).

Example: Sum of squared sides = 300 cm². Find sum of squared medians.
Solution: 3(300) = 4(Sum of m²) → Sum of m² = 900 / 4 = 225 cm².

43. Medians Intersecting at 90°

Rule: a² + b² = 5c² where c is the untouched side.

Example: Two medians intersect at 90°. Sides associated are a=6, b=8. Find untouched
side c.
Solution: 6² + 8² = 5c² → 100 = 5c² → c² = 20 → c = 2√5 cm.

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 44. Right-Angled Medians

Rule: 4(m₁² + m₂²) = 5 × Hypotenuse².

Example: Hypotenuse = 10 cm. Find sum of squared acute medians.

Solution: 4(m₁² + m₂²) = 5(10)² = 500 → m₁² + m₂² = 125 cm².

10. THE EXTREME NICHE RULES

45. Maximum Inscribed Square

Rule: x = (Base × Height) / (Base + Height).

Example: Base = 12 cm, Height = 6 cm. Find inscribed square side x.

Solution: x = (12 × 6) / (12 + 6) = 72 / 18 = 4 cm.

46. Sum of Inverse Altitudes

Rule: 1/r = 1/h₁ + 1/h₂ + 1/h₃.

Example: Altitudes are h₁=6, h₂=8, h₃=12 cm. Find inradius r.

Solution: 1/r = 1/6 + 1/8 + 1/12 = (4+3+2)/24 = 9/24 → r = 24/9 = 2.67 cm.

47. The Orthic Triangle

Rule: Orthocenter of main triangle is incenter of its orthic triangle.

Example: In an acute triangle, altitude feet form an orthic triangle whose incenter is
known. What point is this in the parent triangle? It is the parent's **orthocenter**.

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 11. THE MOCK-TEST EXCLUSIVES (CAT / OLYMPIAD
LEVEL)

48. Menelaus’s Theorem

Rule: (AD/DB) × (BE/EC) × (CF/FA) = 1 for a line cutting sides and an extension.

Example: AD/DB = 2/1, BE/EC = 3/2. Find CF/FA.

Solution: (2/1) × (3/2) × (CF/FA) = 1 → 3 × (CF/FA) = 1 → CF/FA = 1/3.

49. The Nine-Point Circle

Rule: Radius R₉ = R / 2.

Example: Circumradius R = 16 cm. Find Nine-Point circle radius.

Solution: R₉ = 16 / 2 = 8 cm.

50. The Crossed Ladders Theorem

Rule: h = (a × b) / (a + b).

Example: Poles are 6 m and 12 m tall. Find intersection height h.

Solution: h = (6 × 12) / (6 + 12) = 72 / 18 = 4 m.

51. The 15° Right Triangle Shortcut

Rule: Drop altitude to hypotenuse in 15°-75°-90° triangle is H / 4.

Example: Hypotenuse = 24 cm. Find drop altitude to hypotenuse.

Solution: Height = 24 / 4 = 6 cm.

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 52. The Pedal Triangle
Rule: Formed by dropping perpendiculars from any interior point to all three sides.

Example: If the interior point chosen is the orthocenter, the resulting pedal triangle is
specifically called the **orthic triangle**.

53. Equilateral Circle Areas Ratio

Rule: Circumcircle area = 4 × Incircle area.

Example: Incircle area of an equilateral triangle is 15 cm². Find circumcircle area.

Solution: Circumcircle area = 4 × 15 = 60 cm².

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