MATHEMATICS

Chapter 6: Triangles
 TRIANGLES
06

Triangles
1. Congruent figures:
Two geometrical figures are called congruent if they superpose exactly on each other,
that is, they are of the same shape and size.
2. Similar figures:
Two figures are similar, if they are of the same shape but not necessarily of the same
size.

3. All congruent figures are similar but the similar figures need not to be congruent.
4. Two polygons having the same number of sides are similar if
i. their corresponding angles are equal and
ii. their corresponding sides are in the same ratio (or proportion).
Note: Same ratio of the corresponding sides means the scale factor for the polygons.
5. Important facts related to similar figures are:
i. All circles are similar.
ii. All squares are similar.
iii. All equilateral triangles are similar.
iv. The ratio of any two corresponding sides in two equiangular triangles is always
same.
6. Two triangles are similar () if
i. Their corresponding angles are equal.
ii. Their corresponding sides are in same ratio.
7. If the angles in two triangles are:
i. Different, the triangles are neither similar nor congruent.
ii. Same, the triangles are similar.
iii. Same and the corresponding sides are of the same size, the triangles are congruent.
In the given figure, A ↔ D, B ↔E and C ↔ F, which means triangles ABC and DEF are similar
which is represented by Δ ABC  Δ DEF

(1)
 TRIANGLES
06

8. If Δ ABC  Δ PQR, then

i. ΔA=ΔP
ii. ΔB=ΔQ
iii. ΔC=ΔR
𝐴𝐵 𝐵𝐶 𝐴𝐶
iv. = =
𝑃𝑄 𝑄𝑅 𝑃𝑅

9. Equiangular triangles:
Two triangles are equiangular if their corresponding angles are equal. The ratio of any
two corresponding sides in such triangles is always the same.
10. Basic Proportionality Theorem (Thales Theorem):
If a line is drawn parallel to one side of a triangle to intersect other two sides in distinct
points, the other two sides are divided in the same ratio.
11. Converse of BPT:
If a line divides any two sides of a triangle in the same ratio then the line is parallel to
the third side.
12. A line drawn through the mid-point of one side of a triangle which is parallel to another
side bisects the third side. In other words, the line joining the mid-points of any two
sides of a triangle is parallel to the third side.
13. AAA (Angle-Angle-Angle) similarity criterion:
If in two triangles, corresponding angles are equal, then their corresponding sides are in
the same ratio (or proportion) and hence the two triangles are similar.
14. AA (Angle-Angle) similarity criterion:
If two angles of a triangle are respectively equal to two angles of another triangle, then
by the angle sum property of a triangle their third angles will also be equal.
Thus, AAA similarity criterion changes to AA similarity criterion which can be stated as
follows:
If two angles of one triangle are respectively equal to two angles of other triangle, then
the two triangles are similar.
15. Converse of AAA similarity criterion:
If two triangles are similar, then their corresponding angles are equal.
16. SSS (Side-Side-Side) similarity criterion:
If in two triangles, sides of one triangle are proportional to (i.e., in the same ratio of) the
sides of the other triangle, then their corresponding angles are equal and hence the two

(2)
 TRIANGLES
06
triangles are similar.
17. Converse of SSS similarity criterion:
If two triangles are similar, then their corresponding sides are in constant proportion.
18. SAS (Side-Angle-Side) similarity criterion:
If one angle of a triangle is equal to one angle of the other triangle and the sides
including these angles are proportional, then the two triangles are similar.
19. Converse of SAS similarity criterion:
If two triangles are similar, then one of the angles of one triangle is equal to the
corresponding angle of the other triangle and the sides including these angles are in
constant proportion.
20. RHS (Right angle-Hypotenuse-Side) criterion:
If in two right triangles, hypotenuse and one side of one triangle are proportional to the
hypotenuse and one side of another triangle, then the two triangles are similar. This
criteria is referred as the RHS similarity criterion
21. Pythagoras Theorem:
In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the
other two sides.
Thus, in triangle ABC right angled at B, AB2 + BC2 = AC2
22. Converse of Pythagoras Theorem:
If in a triangle, square of one side is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two
sides, then the angle opposite the first side is a right angle.
23. The ratio of the areas of two similar triangles is equal to the square of the ratio of their
corresponding sides.
𝑎𝑟 ∆ 𝐴𝐵𝐶 𝐴𝐵 2 𝐵𝐶 2 𝐶𝐴 2
Thus, if Δ ABC  Δ PQR, then =( ) =( ) =( )
𝑎𝑟 ∆ 𝑃𝑄𝑅 𝑃𝑄 𝑄𝑅 𝑅𝑃

Also, the ration of the areas of two similar triangles is equal to the ration of the squares
of the corresponding medians.
24. Some important results of similarity are:
In an equilateral or an isosceles triangle, the altitude divides the base into two equal
parts.
If a perpendicular is drawn from the vertex of the right triangle to the hypotenuse then
triangles on both sides of the perpendicular are similar to the whole triangle and to each
other.
The area of an equilateral triangle described on one side of a square is equal to half the
area of the equilateral triangle described on one of its diagonal.
Sum of the squares of the sides of a rhombus is equal to the sum of the squares of its
diagonals.

(3)
 TRIANGLES
06
In an equilateral triangle, three times the square of one side is equal to four times the
square of one of its altitudes.
25. Triangle
A triangle can be defined as a polygon which has three angles and three sides. The interior
angles of a triangle sum up to 180 degrees and the exterior angles sum up to 360 degrees.
Depending upon the angle and its length, a triangle can be categorized in the following
types-
 Scalene Triangle – All the three sides of the triangle are of different measure
 Isosceles Triangle – Any two sides of the triangle are of equal length
 Equilateral Triangle – All the three sides of a triangle are equal and each angle
measures 60 degrees
 Acute angled Triangle – All the angles are smaller than 90 degrees
 Right angle Triangle – Anyone of the three angles is equal to 90 degrees
 Obtuse-angled Triangle – One of the angles is greater than 90 degrees
[Link] Criteria of Triangles
To find whether the given two triangles are similar or not, it has four criteria. They are:
Side-Side- Side (SSS) Similarity Criterion – When the corresponding sides of any two
triangles are in the same ratio, then their corresponding angles will be equal and the
triangle will be considered as similar triangles.
Angle Angle Angle (AAA) Similarity Criterion – When the corresponding angles of any
two triangles are equal, then their corresponding side will be in the same ratio and the
triangles are considered to be similar.
Angle-Angle (AA) Similarity Criterion – When two angles of one triangle are respectively
equal to the two angles of the other triangle, then the two triangles are considered as
similar.
Side-Angle-Side (SAS) Similarity Criterion – When one angle of a triangle is equal to one
angle of another triangle and the sides including these angles are in the same ratio
(proportional), then the triangles are said to be similar.

(4)
 TRIANGLES
06

(5)
 TRIANGLES
06

Important Questions
Multiple Choice questions-
AB AC
1. If in triangles ABC and DEF, = , then they will be similar when
EF DE

(a) ∠A = ∠D

(b) ∠A = ∠E

(c) ∠B = ∠E

(d) ∠C = ∠F

2.A square and a rhombus are always

(a) similar

(b) congruent

(c) similar but not congruent

(d) neither similar nor congruent

3. D and E are respectively the points on the sides AB and AC of a triangle ABC such
that AD = 2 cm, BD = 3 cm, BC = 7.5 cm and DE || BC. Then, length of DE (in cm) is

(a) 2.5

(b) 3

(c) 5

(d) 6

4. Which geometric figures are always similar?

(a) Circles

(b) Circles and all regular polygons

(c) Circles and triangles

(d) Regular

5. ΔABC ~ ΔPQR, ∠B = 50° and ∠C = 70° then ∠P is equal to

(a) 50°
(6)
 TRIANGLES
06
(b) 60°

(c) 40°

(d) 70°

Very Short Questions:

1. Two sides and the perimeter of one triangle are respectively three times the
corresponding sides and the perimeter of the other triangle. Are the two
triangles similar? Why?

2. A and B are respectively the points on the sides PQ and PR of a ∆PQR such that
PQ = 12.5 cm, PA = 5 cm, BR = 6 cm, and PB = 4 cm. Is AB || QR? Give reason.

3. In triangles PQR and TSM, ∠P = 55°, ∠Q = 25°, ∠M = 100°, and ∠S = 25°. Is ∆QPR
~ ∆TSM? Why?

4. If ABC and DEF are similar triangles such that ∠A = 47° and ∠E = 63°, then the
measures of ∠C = 70°. Is it true? Give reason.

Short Questions :
1. In Fig. 7.10, DE || BC. If AD = x, DB = x – 2, AE = x + 2 and EC = x – 1, find the
value of x.

2. A vertical pole of length 6 m casts a shadow 4 m long on the ground and at the
same time a tower casts a shadow 28 m long. Find the height of the tower.
𝐴𝑀 𝐴𝑁
3. In Fig. 7.13, if LM || CB and LN || CD, prove that =
𝐴𝐵 𝐴𝐷

4. In Fig. 7.14, DE || OQ and DF || OR Show that EF || QR.

5. Using converse of Basic Proportionality Theorem, prove that the line joining the
mid-points of any two sides of a triangle is parallel to the third side.

6. State which pairs of triangles in the following figures are similar. Write the
(7)
 TRIANGLES
06
similarity criterion used by you for answering the question and also write the
pairs of similar triangles in the symbolic form.

𝐴𝑂 𝐵𝑂 1
7. In Fig. 7.17, = = and AB = 5cm. Find the value of DC.
𝑂𝐶 𝑂𝐷 2

8. E is a point on the side AD produced of a parallelogram ABCD and BE intersects

CD at F. Show that ∆ABE ~ ∆CFB.

9. S and T are points on sides PR and QR of ∆PQR such that ∠P = ∠RTS. Show that
∆RPQ ~
∆RTS.

Long Questions :
1. Using Basic Proportionality Theorem, prove that a line drawn through the mid-
point of one side of a triangle parallel to another side bisects the third side.

2. ABCD is a trapezium in which AB || DC and its diagonals intersect each other at

𝐴𝑂 𝐶𝑂
the point O. Show that = .
𝐵𝑂 𝐷𝑂

3. If AD and PM are medians of triangles ABC and PQR respectively, where ∆ABC ~
𝐴𝐵 𝐴𝐷
∆PQR, prove that =
𝑃𝑄 𝑃𝑀

4. In Fig. 7.37, ABCD is a trapezium with AB || DC. If ∆AED is similar to ΔBEC, prove
that AD = BC.

5. If the areas of two similar triangles are equal, prove that they are congruent.

Assertion Reason Questions-

1. Directions: In the following questions, A statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a
statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as.

a. Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explanation
of assertion (A).

(8)
 TRIANGLES
06
b. Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true but reason (R) is not the correct
explanation of assertion (A).

c. Assertion (A) is true but reason (R) is false.

d. Assertion (A) is false but reason (R) is true.

Assertion: If ∆ABC and ∆PQR are congruent triangles, then they are also similar
triangles.

Reason: All congruent triangles are similar but the similar triangles need not be
congruent.

(9)
 TRIANGLES
06

Answer Key-
Multiple Choice questions-
1. (b) ∠A = ∠E

2. (d) neither similar nor congruent

3. (b) 3

4. (b) Circles and all regular polygons

5. (b) 60°

Very Short Answer :

1. Since the perimeters and two sides are proportional

∴ The third side is proportional to the corresponding third side.

i.e., The two triangles will be similar by SSS criterion.

2.

3. Şince, ∠R = 180° – (∠P + ∠Q)

= 180° – (55° + 25°) = 100° = ∠M

∠Q = ∠S = 25° (Given)

∆QPR ~ ∆STM

i.e., . ∆QPR is not similar to ∆TSM.

4. Since ∆ABC ~ ∆DEF

(10)
 TRIANGLES
06
∴ ∠A = ∠D = 47°

∠B = ∠E = 63°

∴ ∠C = 180° – (∠A + ∠B) = 180° – (47° + 63°) = 70°

∴ Given statement is true.

Short Answer :
1. In ∆ABC, we have

DE || BC,
𝐴𝐷 𝐴𝐸
∴ = [By Basic Proportionality Theorem]
𝐷𝐵 𝐸𝐶

𝑥 𝑥+2
⇒ =
𝑥−2 𝑥−1
⇒ x(x – 1) = (x – 2) (x + 2)

⇒ x2 – x = x2 – 4

⇒x=4

2. Let AB be a vertical pole of length 6m and BC be its shadow and DE be tower

and EF be its shadow. Join AC and DF.

Now, in ∆ABC and ∆DEF, we have

h = 42 Hence, height of tower, DE = 42m

3.

(11)
 TRIANGLES
06

Firstly, in ∆ABC, we have

LM || CB (Given)

Therefore, by Basic Proportionality Theorem, we have

4. In ΔPOQ, we have

DE || OQ (Given)

[Applying the converse of Basic Proportionality Theorem in ∆PQR]

5.
(12)
 TRIANGLES
06

Given: ∆ABC in which D and E are the mid-points of sides AB and AC

respectively.

To prove: DE || BC

Proof: Since D and E are the mid-points of AB and AC respectively

∴ AD = DB and AE = EC

DB EC Therefore, DE || BC (By the converse of Basic Proportionality Theorem)

6. (i) In ∆ABC and ∆QRP, we have

(13)
 TRIANGLES
06

∆NML is not similar to ∆PQR.

7.

⇒ DC = 10 cm.

8.

In ∆ABE and ∆CFB, we have

∠AEB = ∠CBF (Alternate angles)

∠A = ∠C (Opposite angles of a parallelogram)

∴ ∆ABE ~ ∆CFB (By AA criterion of similarity)

9.

(14)
 TRIANGLES
06

In ∆RPQ and ∆RTS, we have

∠RPQ = ∠RTS (Given)

∠PRQ = ∠TRS = ∠R (Common)

∴ ∆RPQ ~ ∆RTS (By AA criterion of similarity)

Long Answer :
1.

Given: A ∆ABC in which D is the mid-point of AB and DE is drawn parallel to BC,

which meets AC at E.

To prove: AE = EC

Proof: In ∆ABC, DE || BC

∴ By Basic Proportionality Theorem, we have

AD AAND
= … (i)
DB ANDC

Now, since D is the mid-point of AB

⇒ AD = BD … (ii)

From (i) and (ii), we have

AD AAND
=
DB ANDC
(15)
 TRIANGLES
06
𝐴𝐴𝑁𝐷
⇒ 1 =
𝐴𝑁𝐷𝐶
Hence, E is the mid-point of AC.

2. Given: ABCD is a trapezium, in which AB || DC and its diagonals intersect each

other at point O.

3. In ΔABD and ΔPQM we have

∠B = ∠Q (∵ ∆ABC ~ ∆PQR) … (i)

4. In ∆EDC and ∆EBA we have

∠1 = ∠2 [Alternate angles]

∠3 = ∠4 [Alternate angles]
(16)
 TRIANGLES
06
∠CED = ∠AEB [Vertically opposite angles]

∴ ∆EDC ~ ∆EBA [By AA criterion of similarity]

5.

Given: Two triangles ABC and DEF, such that

∆ABC ~ ∆DEF and area (∆ABC) = area (∆DEF)

To prove: ∆ABC ≅ ∆DEF

Proof: ∆ABC ~ ∆DEF

⇒ ∠A = ∠D, ∠B = ∠E, ∠C = ∠F

(17)
 TRIANGLES
06

AB = DE, BC = EF, AC = DF

∆ABC ≅ ∆DEF (By SSS criterion of congruency)

(18)