Mathematics

Solving Problems that

Involve Triangle Similarity
and Right Triangles
Development Team of the Module

Writer: Ronnie E. Haya

Editor: Lara Charrise Reyes-Calumbano

Reviewer: Michael R. Lee

Layout: Ma. Fatima D. Delfin and Michiko Remyflor V. Trangia

Management Team: Neil Vincent C. Sandoval

Education Program Supervisor, LRMS

Michael R. Lee
Education Program Supervisor, Mathematics

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 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master the topic about variations. The scope of this module permits it to be used in
many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary
level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the
course. But the order in which you read them can be changed to correspond with the
textbook you are now using.
After going through this module, you are expected to solve problems that involve
triangle similarity and right triangles.

What I Know

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write your chosen letter on a separate sheet of
paper.

̅̅̅̅)?
1. What is the height of the tree (𝑄𝐴

A. 25 m C. 40 m
B. 30 m D. 50 m
2. A 12-foot flagpole is located next to a school building. If the shadow cast by the
flagpole is 16 feet at the same time the shadow of the building is 24 feet, what is
the height of the building?
A. 16 ft C. 28 ft
B. 18 ft D. 32 ft
3. The area of the larger of two similar triangles is 9 times the area of the smaller.
If a side of the smaller triangle is 5 cm long, how long is the corresponding side
of the larger triangle?
A. 15 cm C. 45 cm
B. 25 cm D. 225 cm
4. To find the distance from Q to P across a canyon, a surveyor picks R to be
collinear with Q and P, erects perpendiculars at R and Q, makes S collinear with
T and P so that QR, RS, and QT can be measured. What is the measure of QP?
R 40ft Q
P
90 ft
120 ft
T

S
A. 30 ft C. 90 ft
B. 60 ft D. 120 ft

5. What is the value x in the given figure?

A. 9 ft C. 24 ft
B. 12 ft D. 25 ft

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 Lesson Word Problems Involving
1 Triangle Similarity and
Right Triangles
You learned that the corresponding side lengths of similar triangles are
proportional. This concept can be expanded using the following theorems and corollary
as stated.
 AAA Similarity Theorem
If there exists a correspondence between the vertices of two triangles such that
the three angles of one triangle are congruent to the corresponding angles of
the second triangle, respectively, then the two triangles are similar.
 AA Corollary
If two angles of a triangle are congruent to two angles of the second triangle,
respectively, then the two triangles are similar.
 SAS Similarity Theorem
If two pairs of corresponding sides of two triangles are proportional and the
included angles are congruent, then the two triangles are similar.
 SSS Similarity Theorem
If all three pairs of corresponding sides of two triangles are proportional, then
the two triangles are similar.

What’s In

Let ∆ABC be a right triangle with its right angle at C,

̿̿̿̿ be the altitude from C to 𝐴𝐵
and let 𝐶𝐷 ̿̿̿̿ . Then, ∆ACD
~∆ABC ~∆CBD.

Given a right triangle and the altitude to the

hypotenuse.
1. The altitude is the geometric mean of the segments into which it separates the
hypotenuse.
2. Each leg is the geometric mean of the hypotenuse and the segment of the
hypotenuse adjacent to the leg.

From the figure above, the following equations describe proportionalities for pairs of
corresponding sides.
𝐴𝐷 𝐶𝐷
1. 𝐶𝐷 = 𝐵𝐷; CD = √𝐴𝐷 ∙ 𝐵𝐷

𝐴𝐷 𝐴𝐶
2. 𝐴𝐶
= 𝐴𝐵; AC = √𝐴𝐷 ∙ 𝐴𝐵

𝐵𝐷 𝐵𝐶
3. 𝐵𝐶
= 𝐵𝐴; BC = √𝐵𝐷 ∙ 𝐵𝐴

Thus, we have the similarities

1. ∆ACD ~∆CBD
2. ∆ACD ~∆ABC
3. ∆CBD ~∆ABC

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Pythagorean theorem
In a right triangle, the square of hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the
legs.
The formula of the given theorem is stated as c2 = a2 + b2.
So, in getting the length of the hypotenuse c

c =√𝑎2 + 𝑏 2

and the legs a and b

a = √𝑐 2 − 𝑏 2

b = √𝑐 2 − 𝑎2

In isosceles right triangle(45° − 45° − 90°), the length of the hypotenuse is equal to the
length of a leg times √2.
In a 30° − 60° − 90° triangle, the length of the side opposite the 30° angle is one-half the
length of the hypotenuse.
In a 30° − 60° − 90° triangle, the length of the longer leg is equal to the length of the
shorter leg times √3.

What’s New

The rule of thumb uses the average ratio of a person’s arm length to the distance between
his or her eyes and the altitudes of similar triangles to estimate the distance between a
person and an object of approximately known width.

PROBLEM 1:
Paula holds her arms straight out in front of her with her elbow straight
and thumb pointing up, Closing one eye, she aligns one edge of her thumb
with a car she is sighting. Without moving her head, she switches her eyes.
The car appears to jump 4-car width. If the arm of Paula is about 10 times
longer than the distance between her eyes, and the car is 5 feet wide, find
the distance(x) from Paula’s thumb to the car.
PROBLEM 2
The base of a thirteen-foot ladder stands five feet from a house. How many
feet up the side of the house does the ladder reach?

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 PROBLEM 3:
Carla is hanging silver stars from the gym ceiling using
string for the JS PROMENADE. She wants the ends of the
strings where the stars will be attached to be 6 feet from the
floor. How long is the string?
PROBLEM 4:
A person 6-feet tall is standing near a tree 18 feet high. If
the length of the person’s shadow is 8 feet, what is the
length of the shadow of the tree?
PROBLEM 5:
Two triangular lots are similar. The corresponding sides of
these triangular lots are 8m and 10m. What is the perimeter
of the smaller lot if the perimeter of the larger lot is 850m?

What is It

This section of module provides answers of the problems with detailed solutions.
PROBLEM 1: The diagram of the situation is shown at the right side.
̅̅̅̅̅ ⃦ 𝐷𝐹
PLAN: Assuming that 𝐴𝐵 ̅̅̅̅ , ∠CBA and ∠CDF are

congruent and ∠CAB is congruent to ∠CFD by the

theorem: Alternate Interior Angles are congruent.
∠ACB ≅ ∠FCD by Vertical Angle Theorem.

Therefore, ∆ABC and ∆FDC are similar triangles

by AAA similarity theorem.
SOLVE:
Applying the theorem on special segments of similar triangles: If two triangles are
similar, the lengths of corresponding altitudes are proportional to the lengths of
corresponding sides.
𝑄𝐶 𝐴𝐵
=
𝑃𝐶 𝐹𝐷
QC = 10, AB =1, FD = 5 ∙ 4 = 20, PC = x
10 1
𝑥
= 20
SUBSTITUTION

200 = x
x = 200
CONCLUSION: The distance from Paula’s thumb to the car is 200 feet.

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PROBLEM 2:

PLAN: Using the Pythagorean Theorem c2 = a2 + b2 then b = √𝑐 2 − 𝑎2 .

SOLVE:
b represents the leg of a right triangle. This
represents the distance from the base to the
top of the ladder.

b = √𝑐 2 − 𝑎2

b = √132 − 52 SUBSTITUTION

b = √169 − 25

b = √144
b =12
CONCLUSION: The distance from the base to the top of the ladder is 12 feet.
PROBLEM 3:
PLAN: Each leg is the geometric mean of the
hypotenuse and the segment of the hypotenuse
adjacent to the leg.
Note that x is the length of the string.
SOLVE: Two right triangles are similar,
then a pair of corresponding sides are proportional.
6 10
=
10 𝑥
6x = 100
6𝑥 100
= Divide both sides by 6
6 6
50 2
x= 3
or 16 3
50 2
CONCLUSION: The length of the string is 3
or 16 3
feet.

PROBLEM 4:
PLAN: Two right triangles are similar,
then a pair of corresponding sides are proportional.
ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑒
=
𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑤 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑤 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑒
SOLVE:
6 18
=
8 𝑥
6x = 144
6𝑥 144
6
= 6

x = 24

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CONCLUSION: The length of the shadow of the tree is 24 feet.
PROBLEM 5:
PLAN: The ratio of the perimeters of the two similar triangles is equal to the ratio of
any pair of corresponding sides.
𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑜𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑜𝑡
=
𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑜𝑡 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑜𝑡
Note that x is the perimeter of the smaller lot.
SOLVE:
8 10
=
𝑥 850
10x = 6800
10𝑥 6800
=
10 10
x = 680
CONCLUSION: The perimeter of the smaller lot is 680 meters.

What’s More

Solve the following problems on a clean sheet of paper. Show your neat and clear
solutions.

1. A ladder, leaning against the wall, makes an angle of 45°. How long is the ladder
if its foot is 4.5 meters form the wall?
2. When Alonzo, who is 5’11” tall, stands next to a basketball goal, his shadow is 2’
long, and the basketball goal’s shadow is 4’4” long. About how tall is the
basketball goal?
3. A ladder 9 meters long is placed against a wall 2 meters away from its base. What
is the distance from the base to the top of the ladder?
4. The ratio of the perimeters of two similar triangles is 2:7. Find the ratio of the
areas.
5. A ladder is leaning against a vertical wall which is 5m high. The top of the ladder
slides all the way down the wall so that the bottom of the ladder slides one meter
away from its original position. How long is the ladder?
6. Zach wants to order a banner that will
hang over the side of his high school
baseball stadium grandstand and
reaches the ground. To find this height,
he uses a cardboard square to line up
the top and bottom of the grandstand.
He measures his distance from the
grandstand and from the ground to his
eye level. Find the height of grandstand
to the nearest foot.

What I Have Learned

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Plan, solve and conclude are key verbs in solving geometric problems. But according to
Dr. Carol Aldous of Flinders University, there is strong evidence that intuitive, non-
cognitive thought processes – including creativity and emotion – are vital to solving
mathematical problems.
Indeed, geometric problems in this module can be solved using the following theorems
and concepts about similarities and right triangles.
Pythagorean theorem: In a right triangle, the square of hypotenuse is equal to the sum
of the squares of the legs.
In isosceles right triangle(45° − 45° − 90°), the length of the hypotenuse is equal to the
length of a leg times √2.
In a 30° − 60° − 90° triangle, the length of the side opposite the 30° angle is one-half the
length of the hypotenuse.
In a 30° − 60° − 90° triangle, the length of the longer leg is equal to the length of the other
leg times √3.
Given a right triangle and the altitude to the hypotenuse:
1. The altitude is the geometric mean of the segments into which it separates the
hypotenuse.
2. Each leg is the geometric mean of the hypotenuse and the segment of the
hypotenuse adjacent to the leg.
AAA Similarity Theorem, AA corollary, SAS Similarity Theorem, and SSS Similarity
Theorem are theorems and corollary needed in solving problems about similar triangles.
Any two corresponding angle bisectors, two corresponding altitudes, and two
corresponding medians of similar triangles are proportional to the corresponding sides.
The ratio of the perimeters of two similar triangles is equal to the ratio of any pair of
corresponding sides.

The ratio of the areas of two similar triangles is equal to the square of the ratio of the
lengths of any two corresponding sides.

The ratio of the areas of two similar triangles is equal to the square of the ratio of the
corresponding perimeters.

What I Can Do

The great pyramid of Giza and many other small pyramids (replica of pyramids of Giza) are
square pyramids.
PROBLEM: The roof of a nipa hut is in the form of a square pyramid with altitude 9
meters and its base is 24 meters. Find the slant height(h) and the length of the edge(e).
PLAN: To find the slant height of the square pyramid, use the Pythagorean theorem c2
= a2 + b2 (c is the hypotenuse). Therefore, s2 = 92 + 122.
Solve: s2 = 92 + 122.

s = √92 + 122

s = √81 + 144

s= √225
s = 15

e = √152 + 122

e = √225 + 144

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 e = √369

e = 3√41
e ≈ 19. 21

CONCLUSION: The slant height and the edge are hypotenuse of right triangles.
Therefore, this can be solved using the formula of getting the length of the hypotenuse.
The length of slant height is 15 meters and the length of the edge of the square pyramid
is 3√41 meters or approximately 19.21 meters.

Assessment

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write your chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. A slide from a camera is 2 cm wide and 3 cm long. The print made from it is 10
cm wide. Find the length of the print.
A. 10 cm C. 20 cm
B. 15 cm D. 30 cm

2. What is the value of x in the given diagram?

A. √13 ft C. 2√10 ft
B. 6 ft D. 8√5 ft

3. To find the distance from Q to P across a canyon, a surveyor picks R to be

collinear with Q and P, erects perpendiculars at R and Q, makes S collinear with
T and P so that QR, RS, and QT can be measured. What is the measure of QP?
R 40ft Q
P
90 ft
120 ft
T

S
A. 30 ft C. 90 ft
B. 60 ft D. 120 ft

4. A 6-foot-tall football player is standing on a field next to the goal post. If the player
casts a shadow that is 5ft long while the goal post cast a shadow that is 25 feet
long, how tall is the goal post?
A. 11 ft C. 20 ft
B. 15 ft D. 30 ft

5. Two triangular lots are similar. The corresponding sides of these triangular lots
are 6 m and 10 m. What is the perimeter of the smaller lot if the perimeter of the
larger lot is 900m?
A. 500 m C. 600 m
B. 540 m D. 630 m

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