2.

2 Explore Ratio and Proportion

in Right Triangles

Right triangles are often used in navigation. Being able to find the
angle between the lines of sight to two points of reference, for example,
landmarks or stars, and the distances from the points of reference
allow the navigator to determine the location of the ship.

Investigate The Ratios of Side Lengths in Similar Right Triangles

Method 1: Use Paper and Pencil
Tools
calculator Work with a partner.
grid paper 1. Follow these steps to draw a series of similar right triangles:
protractor a) Draw a horizontal line 20 units long. Label the point on the left
ruler
A and the point on the right B. From B, extend the horizontal
line 10 more units and label the new endpoint C. From C,
extend the line 10 more units and label the new endpoint D.
The length of AD is 40 units.
(
'

&

" %
# $
b) Next, draw vertical line BE 10 units long, CF 15 units long, and
DG 20 units long. Draw a line from A to form triangles ABE,
ACF, and ADG.
c) Use the protractor to measure the angle at A.

2. Measure the lengths of AE, AF, and AG. Record the lengths
in a table.

54 MHR Chapter 2
 3. Use a calculator to write the ratios of side lengths as decimals.
Round each answer to two decimal places. Record the ratios in
your table.
Triangle Side Lengths Ratio 1 Ratio 2 Ratio 3
ABE AB = _
BE = _
AB = _
BE =
BE = AE AE AB
AE =
ACF AC = _
CF
= _
AC
= _
CF
=
CF = AF AF AC
AF =
ADG AD = _
DG
= _
AD = _
DG
=
DG = AG AG AD
AG =

4. What do you notice about the values in your table?

a) How are the values in the ratio 1 column related?
b) How are the values in the ratio 2 column related?
c) How are the values in the ratio 3 column related?

5. Compare the interior angles in the triangles. What do you notice?

6. Triangles ABE, ACF, and ADG are similar. How do the ratios of
side lengths of similar triangles appear to be related?

Method 2: Use The Geometers Sketchpad

Tools 1. Point to the Straightedge tool. Click and hold the mouse button
computer to display the three line-drawing tools (Segment, Ray, and Line,
The Geometers in order from left to right). Choose the Line tool.
Sketchpad
2. Construct line AD so that point D is below and to the right of
point A. To do this, click first in the upper left region of the sketch
to mark the first point. Then, click in the lower right region of the
sketch to mark the second point.
3. Choose the Text tool. Click the first point to auto-label it. If
the first point does not get labelled A, double-click the label
and change it to A. Label the second point D. Drag the label
below the line.

2.2 Explore Ratio and Proportion in Right Triangles MHR 55

 4. Construct horizontal line
AC so that point C is to
the right of point A. Label
point C.

5. Choose the Selection tool.

Select point C and line AC.
Point C and line AC should
now both be selected. From
the Construct menu, choose
Perpendicular Line to
construct a line perpendicular
to AC through C.

6. Select line AD and the

perpendicular line. From
the Construct menu,
choose Intersection. Label
point of intersection B.

7. Choose the Selection tool. Point B is still selected. To deselect,

click anywhere in the white background of the sketch. Select points
C, then A, and then B. From the Measure menu, choose Angle.
The angle will automatically be measured and will appear selected.
8. To deselect the angle measure, click in the white background of
the sketch. Select points A, then C, and then B. From the Measure
menu, choose Angle. The angle measure will appear below the
previous angle measure and be selected. Verify that this angle
measures 90.
9. Deselect the previous angle measure. Select point A and then
point B. From the Measure menu, choose Distance. The distance
between the two points will automatically be measured and will
appear selected. Drag this measure to side AB of the triangle.

56 MHR Chapter 2
10. Repeat step 9 to measure the distance between points B and C.
Drag this distance measure to side BC of the triangle.
11. Repeat step 9 to measure the distance between points A and C.
Drag this distance measure to side AC of the triangle.

12. Deselect the last measurement by clicking anywhere in the white

background of the sketch. Select point C and note that the pointer
has become horizontal with the arrowhead pointing at the current
location of point C. Press and hold the right arrow key and point C
will move to the right. Notice that the pointer has not moved and
still marks the original location of point C before you moved it.
Do the measures of the angles change? Do the lengths of the sides
change? Press and hold the left arrow key to return point C to its
original location (tip of arrowhead).
13. Point C should still be selected. Use the arrow keys to move point
C to four different positions, making sure not to change the size
of the angles. Copy the table, and complete using a calculator.
Round all values to two decimal places.
Lengths Ratios

Triangle AB BC AC _
BC _
AC _
BC
AB AB AC
1

14. Complete this statement to summarize your findings: Although

each triangle has side lengths that are different, the ratios ...

2.2 Explore Ratio and Proportion in Right Triangles MHR 57

 Example 1 Name the Sides and Angles in a Right Triangle
adjacent side
the side that forms
one of the arms of
the angle being
considered, but is not
the hypotenuse
opposite side
the side that does not
form one of the arms
of the angle being
considered
across from the angle The third side, BC, is across
being considered
Example 2 Find the Ratio Comparing Side Lengths
58 MHR Chapter 2
Name the sides of the triangle relative "
to the angle at A.
# $
Solution
Two sides of the triangle form "
the arms of A. They are the
hypotenuse, AC, and one of
IZQPUFOVTF
the legs, AB. Because side AB BEKBDFOU
UP
"
forms one of the arms of A,
it is the adjacent side to A.
# $
PQQPTJUF
GSPN
"
from A. It is the opposite side .
Given GHJ, write a ratio comparing the length of the side opposite
G to the length of the hypotenuse. Then, express the ratio as a
decimal, rounded to three decimal places.
(

DN

DN
) 
DN +
Solution
Side HJ is opposite G. The length of HJ is 4.4 cm.
Side GJ is the hypotenuse. The length of GJ is 8.5 cm.
HJ _
_ = 4.4
GJ 8.5

0.518
 Key Concepts
The opposite side and the adjacent side of a right triangle are
named relative to the angle being considered.
In a right triangle, the hypotenuse is always the side opposite the
right angle.
Ratios comparing the side lengths of right triangles can be
expressed as fractions or as decimals.

Discuss the Concepts

D1. Explain how to tell which side in a right triangle is the hypotenuse.
D2. Your friend missed class and wants to know an easy way to decide
which side is opposite and which is adjacent to an angle in a right
triangle. What would you say to your friend to help?

Practise the Concepts A

For help with questions 1 and 2, refer to Example 1.
Math Connect
1. Copy each triangle. Label the hypotenuse, the opposite, and the
Ancient Egyptian
adjacent sides relative to the marked acute angle.
surveyors used a
length of rope that a) . b) 1
was divided into
12 equal parts
using 11 knots.
Forming a triangle
with sides in the / 0
ratio 3:4:5 created 2 3
a right angle,
which was used c) 4 6 d) 8
extensively in
surveying and
building.

5 7 9

e) " $ f) )

(
#
+

2.2 Explore Ratio and Proportion in Right Triangles MHR 59

 2. Copy each right triangle. Label the hypotenuse, the opposite side,
and the adjacent side relative to the marked angle.
a) " $ b) %

# & '

c) ( d) +

) *

, -

For help with questions 3, 4, and 5, refer to Example 2.

3. Write the ratio comparing the length 4
of the side opposite the marked angle
to the length of the hypotenuse. Then, 
DN
express the ratio as a decimal, rounded 
DN
to three decimal places.
, :

DN

4. Write the ratio comparing the length )

of the adjacent side to the length of the
hypotenuse for the marked angle. Then,
express the ratio as a decimal, rounded 
N

N
to three decimal places. Compare answers
with a classmate.

* 4

N
5. Write the ratio comparing the length )
of the opposite side to the length of the

DN
adjacent side for the marked angle. 
DN
Then, express the ratio as a decimal,
rounded to three decimal places.
& 3

DN

60 MHR Chapter 2
 Apply the Concepts B
6. Write the ratio comparing the length 8 
N
/
of the opposite side to the length
of the hypotenuse for the marked

N
angle. Then, express the ratio to 
N
two decimal places.
*

7. Write the ratio comparing the length of the adjacent side to the
length of the hypotenuse for the marked angle. Measure the side
lengths to the nearest tenth of a centimetre. Then, express the ratio
to two decimal places.
a) $ 5 b) '

"

- :

8. a) Draw triangle XYZ with a right angle at Y and side lengths

XY = 3 m, YZ = 4 m, and XZ = 5 m.
b) Write the ratio comparing the length of the adjacent side to the
length of the hypotenuse with respect to angle X.
Literacy Connect 9. a) Make up your own example to find the ratio comparing the
length of the opposite side to the length of the hypotenuse.
b) Build a model of your example.
c) Trade your example and model with a classmate.
3FBTPOJOH
BOE
1SPWJOH 10. a) Draw a rectangle 3 cm by 3 cm. Label the vertices A, B, C,
3FQSFTFOUJOH 4FMFDUJOH
5PPMT and D.
1SPCMFN
4PMWJOH b) Draw diagonal AC.
$POOFDUJOH 3FnFDUJOH c) For each of the right triangles formed, identify the side opposite
$PNNVOJDBUJOH A, the side adjacent to A, the side opposite C, and the side
adjacent to C.
d) For each triangle, write the ratios comparing the lengths of the
sides opposite and adjacent to A and of the sides opposite and
adjacent to C. What do you notice?
e) Will the result you found in part d) be the same for rectangles
of any size? Explain your answer.

2.2 Explore Ratio and Proportion in Right Triangles MHR 61

 Chapter Problem 11. Jeff has now built the elevator cage that he began in Section 1.1.
The floor of the cage is 2.1 m square with a diagonal brace piece.
The sides of the cage are 2.1 m by 2.5 m, also with diagonal braces.


N


N

N

a) For the base, find the ratio of the length of the horizontal piece
to the length of the brace.
b) For the side, find the ratio of the length of the vertical piece to
the length of the brace.
c) For the side, find the ratio of the horizontal piece to the length
of the brace piece.

Extend the Concepts C

12. Draw
ABC with a right angle at B and legs each of length
17 units.
a) Find the length of the third side. Round your answer
to the nearest tenth.
b) Write the ratio comparing the length of the opposite side
to the length of the adjacent side with respect to angle A.
13. Draw triangle XYZ with a right angle at Y and legs each of length
1 unit.
a) Find the length of the third side. Round your answer to the
nearest tenth.
b) Find the ratio comparing the length of the opposite side to the
length of the hypotenuse with respect to angle X.
c) Find the ratio comparing the length of the opposite side to the
length of the hypotenuse with respect to angle Z.

62 MHR Chapter 2