Geometry

8.1
Right Triangles
 A radical is in
simplest form when:
1. No perfect square factor other than 1
is under the radical sign.
2. No fraction is under the radical sign.
3. No radical is in a denominator.
#2 and #4 Together…You got the rest!!
Simplify:
5 250
1. 81 2. 24 3. 300 4. 5. 6. 4 27
3 48
Answers:
15 5 30
1. 9 2. 2 6 3. 10 3 4. 5. 6. 12 3
3 12
 Geometric Mean
If a, b and x are positive numbers and

a
= x mean

b
mean
x
then x is called the geometric mean between a and b.

Multiplying means/extremes we find that: x = ab

2

Taking the square root of each side: x = ab

A positive number
 Geometric Mean
• Basically, to find the geometric mean of 2 numbers,
multiply them and take the square root. OR (add to
notes: take the square root of each, then multiply try
to find the geometric mean between 4 and 9 and the
geometric mean between 36 and 50)
• Note that the geometric mean always falls between
the 2 numbers.

Ex: Find the geometric mean between 5 and 11.

Use the formula

x = ab  5  11 = 55
 Geometric Mean x = ab
Ex: Find the geometric mean between the two numbers.

a. 5 and 20 5  20 = 100 = 10

Avoid multiplying large numbers together. Break

numbers into perfect square factors to simplify.

b. 24 and 32 24  32 = 24  32
= 4  6  2  16 = 2 6  4 2
= 8 12 = 8 4  3 = 16 3
Directions: Find the geometric mean between the two numbers.

8. 64 and 49 9. 1 and 3 10. 100 and 6 11. 20 and 24

 Geometric Mean x = ab
Find the geometric mean between the two numbers.

7. 5 and 20 5  20 = 100 = 10

8. 64 and 49 64  49 = 8  7 = 56
9. 1 and 3 1 3 = 3
10.100 and 6 100  6 = 10 6
11.20 and 24 20 24 = 2 5  2 6 = 4 30
 ∆ Review
Hypotenuse the side opposite the right
angle in a right triangle

• Altitude the
perpendicular segment
from a vertex to the line
containing the opposite
side
 Theorem
If the altitude is drawn to the hypotenuse of a right
triangle, then the two triangles formed are similar to the
original triangle and to each other.

~
a a
~
b b
 Corollaries
When the altitude is drawn to the hypotenuse of a
right triangle:
Y
the length of the altitude
is the geometric mean
between the segments of
the hypotenuse.

X A Z
Each leg is the geometric mean between the
hypotenuse and the segment of the
hypotenuse that is adjacent to that leg.
 Corollary 1
piece of hypotenuse altitude
altitude = other piece
Y
of hypotenuse

X A Z
XA YA
=
YA AZ
 Corollary 2

hypotenuse = leg
leg piece of Y
hyp. adj. to leg

X A Z

XZ XY
For leg XY : =
XY XA
 Corollary 2

hypotenuse = leg
leg piece of Y
hyp. adj. to leg

X A Z

XZ YZ
For leg YZ : =
YZ AZ
Directions: Exercises 24-31 refer to the diagram at right.
12. If CN = 8 and NB = 16, find AN.
13. If AN = 4 and CN = 12, find NB.
C
14. If AN = 4 and CN = 8, find AB.
15. If AB = 18 and CB = 12, find NB.
16. If AC = 6 and AN = 4, find NB. A B
N
 Homework
pg. 288 #16-30, 31-39 odd
 Exercises
C

A x N 16 B

12. If CN = 8 and NB = 16, find AN. Let x = AN

long leg x 8

short leg 8 16
8  16 x 64  16 x
2

x4
 Exercises
C

A 8 N 12 B

14. If AN = 8 and NB = 12, find CN. Let x = CN

long leg 8 x

short leg x 12
x  96 x  96  6 16
2

x4 6
 Exercises
C

12

A N x B
18
17. If AB = 18 and CB = 12, find NB. Let x = NB

hypot. 18 12

short leg 12 x
12  18 x 144  18 x
2

x8
 Answers Exercises
13 - 19

13. 36
15. 20
16. 2√15
18. 25
19. 5