Metric Relations in Right Triangles

When the altitude is

drawn from the 90 angle, we get 3 similar triangles
Here they are
1 and 3: CBA ~ DBC 2 and 3: CBA ~ DCA

a Original
b
h

3 triangles

so, 1 and 2 are also similar all by AA

Three proportions arise

Ê Triangles 1 and 2

Ê h/n = m/h

Ê h2 = mn b a

h
m
Triangles 2 and 3

Ê b/c = n/b

Ê b2 = nc
c
a
Ê a/c = h/b
h
Ê ab = hc
b
Triangles 1 and 3

Ê a/m = c/a

Ê a2 = mc

c
a
h

b
Example 1
Ex 2