Scribe Notes for December 7, 2009

Similarities

We began class by talking about similar triangles. We had a homework assignment from last
week that involved similar triangles and theorems involving similarities. Today we went over
most of that homework assignment.

First we began with the definition of similar triangles:

Two triangles ∆ABC and ∆A’B’C’ are said to be similar, denoted by ∆ABC ~ ∆A’B’C’ if <A
≅<A’, <B ≅<B’, and <C ≅<C’.

We then talked about the Fundamental Theorem of Similar Triangles. This theorem states
that two triangles ∆ABC and ∆A’B’C’ are similar if and only if their corresponding sides are
𝑙𝑙(AB ) 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴) 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)
proportional, i.e. 𝑙𝑙�𝐴𝐴′ 𝐵𝐵 ′� = 𝑙𝑙�𝐴𝐴′𝐶𝐶 ′ � = 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵 ′ 𝐶𝐶 ′ )

Proof:
In proving this theorem we have to go both ways because it is an if and only if theorem.
𝑙𝑙(AB ) 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴) 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)
We begin with ∆ABC ~ ∆A’B’C’ and want to prove that 𝑙𝑙�𝐴𝐴′ ′� = 𝑙𝑙�𝐴𝐴′ ′ � = 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵 ′ ′ . In our proof
𝐵𝐵 𝐶𝐶 𝐶𝐶 )
we will let ∆A’B’C’ be the smaller triangle without loss of generality.

We copy segment A’B’ onto segment AB such that we AB’’ is congruent to A’B’. We then
copy angle B’ to angle B” so that we create point C” on AC. We know that C” will be between
points A and C because if A’B’ < AB then A’C’ < AC. We did not prove this in class but
talked about being able to prove it by contradiction.
We can extend line B”C” so that we create a new point E, such that B”*C”*E. Now, by vertical
angles we see that <EC”C ≅ <AC”B”. Since <C ≅<C’’ we know that lines BC and B”C” are
parallel (by Alternate Interior Angles).

𝑙𝑙(AC ") 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵"𝐴𝐴)

Now we can use the Parallel Projection Theorem to say that 𝑙𝑙(𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶")
= 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵"𝐵𝐵)
. If we take the
reciprocal of both sides and set them equal to each other (we know they will in fact still equal
each other), add one to both sides, and then combine the fractions by getting a common
𝑙𝑙�𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 ′ �+ 𝑙𝑙(𝐶𝐶"𝐶𝐶) 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵B)+ 𝑙𝑙(B𝐴𝐴) 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)
denominator we get that 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴")
= 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴")
. From here we easily conclude that 𝑙𝑙�𝐴𝐴′ 𝐶𝐶 ′ � =
𝑙𝑙(AB )
.
𝑙𝑙�𝐴𝐴 ′ 𝐵𝐵 ′ �
We know that we can repeat this process but copy the segment A’B’ (or another segment from
∆A’B’C’) differently so that we conclude that a different proportion holds. From this we can
𝑙𝑙(AB ) 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴) 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)
then conclude that 𝑙𝑙�𝐴𝐴′ 𝐵𝐵 ′ � = 𝑙𝑙�𝐴𝐴′ 𝐶𝐶 ′ � = 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵 ′ 𝐶𝐶 ′ ).

𝑙𝑙(AB ) 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴) 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)

Now, we have to prove this theorem the other way. Here we start with 𝑙𝑙�𝐴𝐴′ 𝐵𝐵 ′� = 𝑙𝑙�𝐴𝐴′ 𝐶𝐶 ′ �
= 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵 ′ 𝐶𝐶 ′ )
and want to prove that ∆ABC ~ ∆A’B’C’. We begin with ∆ABC and ∆A’B’C’.

We then copy A’B’ onto AB as before. This time, we will create a parallel line that intersects
AC at a point C” from our point B”. So B”C” is parallel to BC. We now have that ∆AC”B” ~
∆ACB by our construction.
 𝑙𝑙(AB ") 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴") 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵"𝐶𝐶")
Now, because of our similar triangles we know 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)
= 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)
= 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)
. The hypothesis tells us
𝑙𝑙(A′B′) 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴′ 𝐶𝐶 ′ ) 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵′𝐶𝐶′) 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴") 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴′ 𝐶𝐶 ′ )
that 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)
= 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)
= 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)
. This implies that 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)
= 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)
. Which implies that 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴") =
𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴) and 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵′C') = 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵"𝐶𝐶"). Then we see by SSS that ∆𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴C ≅ ∆𝐴𝐴′ 𝐵𝐵 ′ 𝐶𝐶 ′ . Thus ∆ABC ~
∆A’B’C’.

𝑙𝑙(AB )
We then talked about SAS Similarity Criterion. This states that if <A ≅<A’ and 𝑙𝑙�𝐴𝐴′ 𝐵𝐵 ′ � =
𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)
𝑙𝑙�𝐴𝐴′ 𝐶𝐶 ′ �
then ∆ABC ~ ∆A’B’C’.

Proof:
We began with ∆ABC and ∆A’B’C’. We then constructed a new triangle in ∆ABC, such
that it is similar to ∆ABC, with one of its sides congruent to one of the sides of ∆A’B’C’. We
then used proportions to show that the new triangle is congruent to ∆A’B’C’, and therefore
∆ABC ~ ∆A’B’C’. This picture is the same as in the above picture so I have not included a new
one, and the proportions used are similar as well.

Next we talked about the Converse of the Parallel Projection Theorem. We wanted to know if
it was true, sometimes true, or false. The converse of PPT is: given A*B*C and A’*B’*C’ and if
𝑙𝑙(AB ) 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴′𝐵𝐵′)
𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)
= 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵 ′ 𝐶𝐶 ′ )
𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨′ is parallel to ⃖������⃗
then ⃖�����⃗ ⃖�����⃗. We decided that this is
𝑩𝑩𝑩𝑩′ which is parallel to 𝑪𝑪𝑪𝑪′
always true only when either point A=A’ or point C=C’. We can see that this will create similar
triangles and will therefore hold. However, if this does not occur it is not guaranteed that the
lines will be parallel.

We then moved on to the Midpoint Theorem. This theorem was easily proven using
similarities, however when we tried to prove it without using similarities we struggled (however
we did come to a conclusion eventually). The Midpoint Theorem states that given ∆ABC, if we
connect the midpoints of two sides we will have a new segment that is parallel to the third side of
the triangle.
 𝑙𝑙(CE ) 𝑙𝑙(𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶)
Here we have that <DCE ≅ <ACB. We know that 𝑙𝑙(𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵) = 𝑙𝑙(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)
. By the hypotheses of SAS for
similar triangles we know that ∆CDE ~ ∆CAB. Then we know that since these triangles are
similar, their corresponding angles are congruent. Thus, we can use what we know about
congruent angles created in this fashion (with a transversal through two parallel lines) to know
that DE is parallel to AB.

To prove the midpoint theorem without using similarities we first let E be the midpoint of BC.
We will let D be the point such that A*E*D. From this we get ∆AEC ≅ ∆DEB (by SAS) and ED
≅ AE. From this we get that AC and BD are parallel and congruent. Ralph then came up with a
theorem that says that this implies that ABDC is parallelogram. He told us that he would prove
this theorem for us next time. Next, we will draw a parallel to AB through E, and let it intersect
AC at point F and BD at point G. Then FGDC (or FGBA) is a parallelogram, so FC≅GD
(FA≅BG). We also know that ∆CEF≅ ∆BEG by ASA, so FC≅BG, and now that tells you that
FC≅ AF. So from this we see that F is the midpoint of AC and E is the midpoint of BC.
We also made a claim, and then disproved it in regards to trisecting a line. The claim was a
segment cannot be trisected. Brett proved this claim to be false. We began with an arbitrary
segment ab. From one of this segment’s endpoints he created another segment three units long
(we’ll call this segment ac). He then connected the endpoint (c) of this new line to the endpoint
of our original segment ab (making a triangle). He then created two other lines parallel to this
line that went through the unit marks on our segment ac and our original segment ab. From this,
he created similar triangles. Each triangle had one, two or three equal parts of the segment ab.