RATIO

Rectangles
Imagine a vehicle 8 metres wide and 4 metres high, driving away from you.
It will begin to appear smaller and smaller, though its size does not change.
On a photograph, the dimensions of the vehicle at different distances will be different.
The dimensions will always be IN PROPORTION,
and the ANGLES of the corners remain the same.
because the vehicles shape doesnt change.
The sides above remain in the ratio 2:1 or 1:2
One side is always twice the other.
The base is always twice the height. The height is always half the width.
Finally, there is the MAGNIFICATION FACTOR.
If we magnify (multiply) the sides of the green rectangle by 2, we get the small red one.
If we magnify by 4, we get the middle red one.
If we magnify by 8, we get the large red one.
Triangles
A triangle is half of a rectangle, so the same mathematical relationships apply.
For the two similar triangles below,
the magnication factor is 3 or 1/3
and the ratios of the sides is 3:4:5
8
4
4
2
2
1
1
3
4
5
15
9
12
Before continuing with the maths, think about the two triangles on the previous page.
If the smaller triangle is magnied by 3, then all 3 corresponding angles are the same,
and all 3 sides of the large triangle are 3 times the length of all 3 corresponding sides of
the smaller triangle.
After all, the large triangle is just the small one under a magnifying glass!
or, the small triangle is the large one further away from us.
Looking at the triangles in this way makes the idea very simple!
Then the maths is also very simple.
Look at the sides again.
The 3 sides of either triangle are in the ratio 3:4:5
If you take any 2 sides from one triangle and the 2 corresponding sides from the other,
the ratios are the same
and so on.
Try writing out a few more ratios....
Also, if you take a side from one triangle and its corresponding side on the other,
then take another pair of corresponding sides between the two triangles, the ratios are
again the same.
Try writing a few more...
AS WE CAN SEE, THERE ARE 2 SETS OF RATIOS.
One set is due to the sides of either triangle being in the exact same ratio
(since they are the same triangle in 3-D).
and the other set is due to the fact that one triangle is a magnied version of the other
in 2-D.

4
5
=
12
15
;
3
4
=
9
12
;
5
3
=
15
9
4
3
=
12
9
;
9
15
=
3
5
;
5
4
=
15
12
In many exam questions, one triangle is placed inside the other as follows
and some dimensions given... Then you are asked to nd other sides.
In such a case, we remove the small triangle
and gure out the magnication factor from
corresponding sides as follows...
After removing the inner triangle, we see the dimensions of a pair of corresponding sides.
This allows us to write the magnication factor.
The magnication factor allows us to calculate the lengths of other sides.
You could also say that the side ratios of both triangles are equal, because the triangles
are similar
3
5
3
5
3
8
x
x
m =
8
5
= 1.6
x = 1.6 ( ) 3 =
8
5

3 =
24
5
= 4.8
3
5 3
x
x
5
8
3
A
A
B
B
C
C
3
5
=
x
8
In the exam question, it may only be stated that the 2 internal sides are parallel.
This means the triangles are similar, so one is a magnied version of the other.
If the rst 2 pages make sense, then we can continue to solve geometry problems.
Another thing to bear in mind is that all angles in a triangle sum to 180 degrees.
This means we only need to know 2 of them.
This also means that if the triangle is right-angled,
we only need to know one of the acute angles.
It also means that if the triangle is isosceles, we only need to know one angle.
Stop to completely understand the above statements.
To help with construction, the most fundamental triangle is the right-angled triangle.
Any triangle is made of 2 right-angled triangles...
In the scalene triangle on the right,
the acute angles of the triangle on the right
differ from those of the triangle on the left.
If we place 2 identical back-to-back
right-angled triangles together,
we form an isosceles triangle..
(thats the triangle we nd
in circles)
Notice that, since all angles in a triangle sum to 180 degrees,
then the 2 acute angles sum to 90 degrees in a right-angled triangle, since 90+90 =180.
The we can write those angles as A and 180-A, if we like, instead of A and B.
The above triangle is isosceles because it is made of 2 identical back-to-back
right-angled triangles..
This is how it looks without
the construction line,
the internal altitude.
90
o
90
o
90
o
90
o
90
o
A
90
o
A
A
A A
180
o
2A
x x
PYTHAGORAS THEOREM
To prove Pythagoras Theorem,
we use the fact that any triangle is composed of 2 right-angled triangles.
To simplify a little, rotate the triangle.
Draw the altitude
and ask yourself
what are the 3rd angles
in both inner triangles ?
Use the fact that
all angles in a triangle
sum to 180 degrees.
The 2 acute angles of a right-angled triangle sum to 90 degrees,
therefore, we can see that the angles missing above are A and B.
IMPORTANT:
To keep the proof simple, do not write in a letter for the length of the altitude.
Splitting the hypotenuse into 2 parts is as far as you need to go.
90
o
a
b
c
a
2
+ b
2
= c
2
90
o
a
b
c
b
a
c
1
c
2
A
A B
B
90
o
90
o
A + B + 90
o
= 180
o
A + B = 90
0
The inner triangles have the exact same angles as the external one,
therefore the external triangle is a magnied version of the inner ones.
Remove the inner triangles and align all 3 triangles with the angle A at the bottom left
and the hypotenuse as the base.
Take the time to be able to take the inner triangles out and correct align them as shown
above (since then it will be simple to do again).
Finally to get the squares of the perpendicular sides, we need a pair of equal ratios with a
and a pair of equal ratios with b,
so that we get the squares when we cross multiply.
Taking the top and middle triangles
b
c
1
c
2
90
o
90
o
a
B
B
A
A
90
o
A B
a
b
90
o
90
o
c
1
c
2
b
a
A
A
B
B
c
magnification =
a
c
2
=
c
a
a
2
= c c
2
( )
Taking the top and lower triangles, we get
The two magnications will only be the same if the 2 smaller triangles are the same size.
It doesnt matter that the 2 magnications are different or not.
We will always have
Therefore, adding these we get
This means that it does not matter what the acute angles or side lengths are....
If the triangle is right-angled, then the sum of the squares of the perpendicular sides
is equal to the square of the hypotenuse
(because we have proven it IN GENERAL, without specic acute angles or lengths).
The process of drawing the altitude,
removing the inner triangles,
aligning them so they are positioned for writing the side ratios,
is very easy when you understand the MAGNIFICATION of a triangle
and when you understand that any triangle is made of 2 right-angled triangles,
including right-angled triangles themselves!
magnification =
b
c
1
=
c
b
b
2
= c c
1
( )
a
2
= c c
2
( )
b
2
= c c
1
( )
a
2
+ b
2
= c c
1
( ) + c c
2
( ) = c c
1
+ c
2
( ) = c c ( )
a
2
+ b
2
= c
2
2010 JUNIOR CERT HONOURS MATHS, PAPER 2, Q3 (c)
In the triangles PQR and QST,
(i) Prove that triangles RPQ and STQ are equiangular.
These triangles will be equiangular if all 3 angles are equal.
IN ANSWERING EXAM QUESTIONS, YOU ONLY NEED TO SHOW THAT 2 SETS OF
ANGLES FROM BOTH TRIANGLES ARE EQUAL. THIS IS BECAUSE ALL 3 ANGLES
SUM TO 180 DEGREES, SO THE THIRD ANGLES IN BOTH TRIANGLES WOULD HAVE
TO BE EQUAL ALSO.
The exam question gave that the angles marked x are equal.
We only need to show that one other set of angles are equal.
The 2 angles at Q are equal....
These means that the angles at P and T MUST also be equal
because the sum of the angles in both triangles is 180 degrees.
(ii) Find to the nearest cm.
Using the result from part (i).....
The triangles are equiangular, so the large triangle is a magnied version of the smaller
one, so if we split them apart and align then, we will easily see the side ratios....
P
R
Q
S
T
x
x
QRP = QST .
SQT = RQP
2.5cm
8cm
PT
x
8cm
x
2.5cm
a
a
P
R
Q
S
Q
T
y
y
z
z
Looking at the diagram given on the exam paper,
if you rotate the triangle QST about the point Q, keeping that point xed while rotating the
point S, until the angle x lines up with the angle x in triangle RQP,
then you will have the triangles properly aligned.
We can get the remaining side using the fact that the side ratios for both triangles are the
same because the triangles are equiangular
or we can use the magnication...
and so, from this
The next page discusses how triangles are identical.
This will help you answer questions involving sides being the same and angles being the
same that have not been given in th question.
PT = PQ + QT
PQ = a
QT = 2.5cm
a
2
= 8 2.5cm
2
= 20cm
2
a = 20cm 4.47cm
PT 2.5 + 4.47cm = 6.97cm 7cm
magnification =
a
2.5
=
8
a
a
8
=
2.5
a

When 2 triangles are the exact same, then all 3 corresponding angles are equal
and all 3 corresponding sides have equal lengths.
If all 3 sides are the same lengths,
(the 3 sets of corresponding sides all have both sides equal, that is....
as opposed to the triangles being equilateral)
then the triangles are the same.
Imagine rotating one of the triangles...
This is the purpose of asking you to draw a triangle given the lengths of the 3 sides.
From doing that, you can see that there is only 1 way to draw the triangle.
Its shape, and so the angles, are completely determined by the side lengths.
That is the starting point for understanding what makes triangles identical (congruent).
If all 3 angles are the same,
unfortunately one triangle could be a magnied version of the other
BUT IF JUST ONE PAIR OF CORRESPONDING SIDES ARE EQUAL,
THE TRIANGLES MUST BE THE SAME.
(Imagine one triangle beiing a magnied version of the other.
If you enlarge the small one until it is exactly the same as the large one,
then a pair of corresponding sides are noe equal. The other 2 pairs of sets of
corresponding sides have also become equal, however!).
Another way that triangles are identical is as follows...
Given 2 sides and the included angle,
there is only one way to make the triangle.
Therefore, 2 triangles having 2 sides
and the included angle all the same
are identical.
8
8
7
7
5
5
z
z
a
a
b
b
SSS
SAS
Past Exam Question, 2006 Paper 2, Q4 (c)
(i) Write down the length of , giving a reason for your answer.
We are given the length of [KL].
The length of [Km] will be half of the length of [KL] if triangle OKm is identical to
triangle OLm.
The question has in fact given too much information to the student !!
It should only have given that [om] is perpendicular to [KL].
By telling us that m is the midpoint of [KL], we know that
and therefore, they are both half of 30.
Thats the fastest way to answer and the reason the 2 line sements [Km] and [mL] are 15
is because m is the midpoint of [KL], so m is halfway between K and L.
If we had not been told that m is the midpoint, we could try to show that the 2 right-
angled triangles are identical and so [Km] and [mL] would both have to be half of 30.
Then we know that BOTH angles at m are right-angles.
Then, since the triangle KLO is isosceles due to both [KO] and [OL] being 17
(they are both the circle radius)....we have that the angles at K and L are the same.
THEREFORE THE 3RD ANGLES ARE ALSO EQUAL (angles Kom and moL)
SINCE ALL 3 ANGLES SUM TO 180 DEGREES IN BOTH RIGHT-ANGLED TRIANGLES)
Therefore the triangles are equiangular (similar) and will be identical if we can nd a set of
corresponding sides of equal length.
They both have a common altitude [om] and they both have a hypotenuse of 17,
so either way, the right-angled triangles are identical.
Therefore [Km] and [mL] are equal, since they are corresponding sides of both triangles.
m
K
L
o
LK = 30
R = 17

m is the midpoint of KL
[ ]
om
[ ]
KL
[ ]
Km [ ]
Km = mL
2009 JUNIOR CERT HONOURS MATHS PAPER 2

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(c)
[ca] is perpendicular to [ab] and so angle cab is 90 degrees
[cd] is perpendicular to [db] and so angle cdb is 90 degrees
Triangle dca is isosceles
Angle cad (or cae) is equal to angle cda (or cde)
Since angle cab equals angle cdb ..... and angle cad equals angle cda
THEN ANGLE dab EQUALS ANGLE adb.
Therefore, triangle adb is isosceles also.
This means that the length of [ab] equals the length of [db].
Therefore, triangles cab and cdb are similar (equilangular).
Since at least one pair of corresponding sides are equal ( we already have that 2 pairs are
equal... side [ca] equals side [cd] and side [ab] equals side [db] )
then the triangles cab and cdb are identical (congruent).
Here is how to progress through this question in an exam....
First, you must understand that a tangent makes a 90 degree angle with the radius
that touches the tangent at the point of tangency.
Just imagine a ball balacing on a
horizontal table.
The centre of the ball will be
directly over the point of contact.
Understanding this allows you to
nd a pair of equal angles
in the 2 triangles.

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giving a reason Ior your answer in each case.



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90
o
We have an SAS situation, though it is not the included angle version of it.
Many students would probably say that there is a commom angle,
a side of both triangles equals the circle radius and the hypotenuse of both is the same
length (the hypotenuse are stuck together).
Therefore, they will write SAS.... the triangles are the same.
You could also use the chord of the circle to prove the triangles are the same
beyond all doubt.
The angles A and B are equal because triangle acd is isosceles.
However, the angles cab and cdb are both right-angles and so the angles D and E
are equal also.
Therefore triangle adb is also isosceles, which gives
90
o
90
o
R
R
c
c
R
R
A
A
B
B
E
D
a
a
c
c
d
d
Triangle acd is isosceles, so A = B
A + D = 90
o
= B + E
A + D = B + E
A = B A + D = A + E D = E
b
ab = db
a
d
b
D
E
e
Here is why the SAS rule works for the 2 right-angled triangles....
R is the radius of the small circle in the exam question diagram.
So the right-angled triangles have a side of length R and a 90 degree angle as shown,
with the same hypotenuse, in which case there is only one way to draw the triangles, so
they are identical.


R
90
o
The hypotenuse of both
triangles must touch the
other perpendicular
side at the same place.
t
o
o

s
h
o
r
t
t
o
o

l
o
n
g
(ii)
Now that we know that triangles acb and cdb are identical,
we also now know that the angles abc and cbd are equal.
Therefore, since triangle adb is isosceles, angle eab equals angle edb....
and this means that the third angles of triangles aeb and deb are equal.
Hence angle deb equals angle aeb.
Therefore the triangles are equiangular.
They are therefore identical as we know 2 pairs of corresponding sides are equal,
hence the remaining pair of corresponding sides are equal....
Hence the line [cb] bisects the chord [ad]
ae = ed