Right Triangle Properties

#maths #triangles

Base Properties
Let ABC be a triangle, right-angled at C with sides opposites to the vertices marked with the
corresponding lower case letters.

Perimeter = a + b + c = 2s

1
Area (Δ) = ab
2

Pythagoras Theorem:
2 2 2
c = b + a

Median
Suppose a median CD to side AB is drawn.
The median CD will be perpendicular to side AB i.e.

CD ⊥ AB
and:

1 c
CD = AB =
2 2

∴ Note: △BCD ≅ △CDA and both triangles are isosceles with BD = CD = DA = c

2
.

Circles of the Triangle

Incircle is a circle that lies inside the triangle, touching all its sides. The incenter is the center
of this circle and it is the point of intersection of all the angular bisectors.

Circumcircle is a circle that lies on the three vertices of the triangle, i.e. it touches all the 3
vertices of the triangle. The circumcenter is the center of this circle and it is the point of
intersection of all the perpendicular bisectors of every side.

The circumcenter will be at D and the circumradius will be equal to the median i.e. R = c
2
.
Suppose the incircle has radius r:

a + b − c ab Δ
r = = =
2 a + b + c s

where Δ is the area of the triangle, and s is the semi-perimeter.

The diameter of the incircle is always less than the hypotenuse:

2r < c

Note: The relation Δ = rs, is valid for even a quadrilateral.

If you add the circumradius and inradius, you get the average of the legs of the triangle, i.e.:

a + b
R + r =
2

Note, this triangle can always be inscribed in a semi-circle, with its right-angled vertex on the
semi-circular arc

Trigonometric
Angles A and B are complementary, and can be taken as θ and 90 − θ usually while solving
problems.

Trigonometric ratios are defined in terms of sides of a right triangle.