M9GE-IIIg-h-1

M9GE-IIIi-1

SPECIAL RIGHT TRIANGLE

SIMILARITY THEOREM
Prepared By:
Renan James A. Galang
SST-III/ CMRICTHS
 SPECIAL RIGHT TRIANGLE
SIMILARITY THEOREM

How can we find the lengths of a

special right triangle?
SIDE LENGTHS OF SPECIAL RIGHT TRIANGLES

 Right triangles whose angle measures are

45°-45°-90° or 30°-60°-90° are called special right
triangles. The theorems that describe these
relationships of side lengths of each of these special
right triangles follow.
 45°-45°-90° TRIANGLE THEOREM

 In a 45°-45°-90° 45°
triangle, the hypotenuse √2x

is √2 times as long as x
each leg. 45°

x
Hypotenuse = √2 ∙ leg
 30°-60°-90° TRIANGLE THEOREM

60°
 In a 30°-60°-90° triangle, 2x
the hypotenuse is twice as x
long as the shorter leg, 30°
and the longer leg is √3 √3x
times as long as the Hypotenuse = 2 ∙ shorter leg
shorter leg. Longer leg = √3 ∙ shorter leg
EX. 1: FINDING THE HYPOTENUSE IN A 45°-45°-90° TRIANGLE

 Find the value of x

 By the Triangle Sum Theorem,
the measure of the third
3 3
angle is 45°. The triangle is a
45°-45°-90° right triangle, so 45°
the length x of the x
hypotenuse is √2 times the
length of a leg.
EX. 1: FINDING THE HYPOTENUSE IN A 45°-45°-90° TRIANGLE

3 3

45°

Hypotenuse = √2 ∙ leg 45°-45°-90° Triangle

Theorem
x = √2 ∙ 3 Substitute values

x = 3√2 Simplify
EX. 2: FINDING A LEG IN A 45°-45°-90° TRIANGLE

 Find the value of x. 5

 Because the triangle is an

isosceles right triangle, its
x
base angles are congruent. x

The triangle is a 45°-45°-

90° right triangle, so the
length of the hypotenuse is
√2 times the length x of a
leg.
EX. 2: FINDING A LEG IN A 45°-45°-90° TRIANGLE

Statement:
Reasons:
Hypotenuse = √2 ∙ leg 45°-45°-90° Triangle Theorem
5 = √2 ∙ x Substitute values
5 √2x
=
√2 √2 Divide each side by √2
5
5
= x Simplify
√2

x x
√2 5 Multiply numerator and
= x
√2 √2 denominator by √2
5√2
= x Simplify
2
EX. 3: FINDING SIDE LENGTHS IN A 30°-60°-90° TRIANGLE

 Find the values of s and t.

 Because the triangle is a 30°- 60°

60°-90° triangle, the longer t

s
leg is √3 times the length s of
30°
the shorter leg.
5
EX. 3: SIDE LENGTHS IN A 30°-60°-90° TRIANGLE

Statement:
Reasons:
Longer leg = √3 ∙ shorter leg 30°-60°-90° Triangle Theorem
5 = √3 ∙ s Substitute values
5 √3s
=
√3 √3 Divide each side by √3
5
60° = s Simplify
√3
t √3 5 Multiply numerator and
s = s
√3 √3 denominator by √3
30° 5√3
= s Simplify
3
5
 THE LENGTH OF THE HYPOTENUSE IS
TWICE THE LENGTH S OF THE SHORTER LEG.

Statement:
Reasons:
Hypotenuse = 2 ∙ shorter leg 30°-60°-90° Triangle Theorem
t = 2 5√3 Substitute values
∙ 3

t = 10√3 Simplify
60°
3
t
s
30°

5
USING SPECIAL RIGHT TRIANGLES IN REAL LIFE
 Example 4: Finding the height of a ramp.
 Tipping platform. A tipping platform is a ramp
used to unload trucks. How high is the end of
an 80 foot ramp when it is tipped by a 30°
angle? By a 45° angle?
EX. 4: SOLUTION

 When the angle of elevation is 30°, the height of the ramp is the length
of the shorter leg of a 30°-60°-90° triangle. The length of the
hypotenuse is 80 feet.

80 = 2h 30°-60°-90° Triangle Theorem

40 = h Divide each side by 2.
When the angle of elevation is 30°, the ramp
height is about 40 feet.
 EX. 4: SOLUTION
 When the angle of elevation is 45°, the height
of the ramp is the length of a leg of a 45°-45°-
90° triangle. The length of the hypotenuse is
80 feet.
80 = √2 ∙ h 45°-45°-90° Triangle Theorem

80
= h Divide each side by √2
√2

56.6 ≈ h Use a calculator to approximate

When the angle of elevation is 45°, the ramp
EX. 5: FINDING THE AREA OF A SIGN

 Road sign. The road sign

is shaped like an
equilateral triangle. 18 in.

Estimate the area of the

sign by finding the area of h
36 in.
the equilateral triangle.
EX. 5: SOLUTION
18 in.

 First, find the height h of the triangle by

dividing it into two 30°-60°-90° h
triangles. The length of the longer leg of 36 in.

one of these triangles is h. The length

of the shorter leg is 18 inches.
Use h = 18√3 to find the
h = √3 ∙ 18 = 18√3 area of the equilateral
triangle.
30°-60°-90° Triangle Theorem
EX. 5: SOLUTION

Area = ½ bh 18 in.

= ½ (36)(18√3) h

≈ 561.18 36 in.

 The area of the sign is

a bout 561 square inches.
 REFERENCES:
• Geometry in the real world. Explorations and Applications by
Karl Freidrich Jose D. Romero
• Learning Geometry through Discovery and Interaction by
Lutgarda S. Sundiam
• Mathematics Learner’s 9 by Department of Education
• Next Century Mathematics Geometry by Fernando B. Orines,
Jesus P. Mercado, and Josephine V. Suzara
 END OF PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

Prepared By:
Renan James A. Galang
SST-III/ CMRICTHS