Geometric Twins | IT

Question 21

Context: ΔABC\Delta ABC and ΔXYZ\Delta XYZ are two triangles such that AB=XY=6 cmAB = XY = 6\text{ cm}, AC=XZ=4 cmAC = XZ = 4\text{ cm}, and B=Y=30\angle B = \angle Y = 30^\circ.

Q. Can there exist non-congruent triangles having these measurements? Construct and find out.

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Solution
Understand the Question
  • Given two sides and a non-included angle: AB=6 cmAB = 6\text{ cm}, AC=4 cmAC = 4\text{ cm}, and B=30\angle B = 30^\circ (the SSA\text{SSA} condition).
  • SSA\text{SSA} (Side-Side-Angle) is not a standard congruence criterion because it can result in two non-congruent triangles (the ambiguous case).
  • By calculating the perpendicular height from AA to the opposite line and comparing it with ACAC, we determine how many distinct triangles can be formed.

Step 1 · Calculate the Perpendicular Height

Let ADAD be the perpendicular drawn from AA to the line containing base BCBC.

In right-angled triangle ABDABD sin(B)=ADAB\sin(\angle B) = \dfrac{AD}{AB}

AD=AB×sin(B)AD = AB \times \sin(\angle B)

Given AB=6 cmAB = 6\text{ cm}, B=30\angle B = 30^\circ, and sin(30)=0.5\sin(30^\circ) = 0.5

AD=6 cm×0.5=3 cm\begin{aligned} AD &= 6\text{ cm} \times 0.5 \\ &= 3\text{ cm} \end{aligned}

Step 2 · Compare Height with Side Lengths

Comparing the perpendicular height AD=3 cmAD = 3\text{ cm}, side AC=4 cmAC = 4\text{ cm}, and side AB=6 cmAB = 6\text{ cm} 3 cm<4 cm<6 cm3\text{ cm} < 4\text{ cm} < 6\text{ cm}

AD<AC<ABAD < AC < AB

Since the perpendicular height is strictly less than ACAC, and AC<ABAC < AB, an arc of radius 4 cm4\text{ cm} drawn from AA will intersect the base line at two distinct points, creating two possible non-congruent triangles.

Step 3 · Construct and Verify the Triangles

Diagram 1

Construction steps:

  1. Draw a ray from point BB making an angle of 3030^\circ with the horizontal base line.
  2. Mark point AA on this ray such that AB=6 cmAB = 6\text{ cm}.
  3. With center AA and radius 4 cm4\text{ cm}, draw an arc intersecting the horizontal base line at two distinct points, C1C_1 and C2C_2.

Both ΔABC1\Delta ABC_1 and ΔABC2\Delta ABC_2 satisfy: AB=6 cm,AC1=AC2=4 cm,B=30AB = 6\text{ cm}, \quad AC_1 = AC_2 = 4\text{ cm}, \quad \angle B = 30^\circ

However, ΔABC1\Delta ABC_1 and ΔABC2\Delta ABC_2 have different third side lengths (BC1BC2BC_1 \ne BC_2) and different angles, making them non-congruent.

Answer

Yes, non-congruent triangles can exist with these measurements (such as ΔABC1\Delta ABC_1 and ΔABC2\Delta ABC_2).

Common Mistakes
  • Assuming SSA Guarantees Congruence: SSA\text{SSA} (Side-Side-Angle) is not a valid congruence criterion. It can yield 00, 11, or 22 distinct triangles.
  • Overlooking the Two Intersection Points: When the opposite side length lies strictly between the perpendicular height and the adjacent side (AD<AC<ABAD < AC < AB), swinging the compass arc cuts the base line twice, producing one acute-angled and one obtuse-angled triangle.

More questions in IT

Q1

Context: The symbol on this signboard needs to be recreated on another board.

Q. How do we do it?

Q2

Q. Can we take some measurements that would allow us to exactly recreate this figure? If yes, what measurements should we take?

Q3

Context: Let us name the corner points of this symbol as shown.

Q. Are the arm lengths ABAB and BCBC sufficient to exactly recreate this figure?

Q4

Context: Suppose the lengths of the arms of the symbol are AB=4 cm\text{AB} = 4\text{ cm} and BC=8 cm\text{BC} = 8\text{ cm}. Several such symbols can be constructed with the same lengths.

Q. To get the exact replica, would it help to take any other measurement?

Q5

Can you draw the symbol if it is known that AB=4 cmAB = 4\text{ cm}, BC=8 cmBC = 8\text{ cm}, and ABC=80\angle ABC = 80^\circ?

Q6

If it is known that both symbols have the same arm lengths, can it be concluded that the two symbols are congruent?

Q7

What do you think they can do?

Q8

Context: Meera says: "The angles of the triangle are not required! With the side lengths we have measured, we can create a triangle congruent to this one."

Q. Do you agree with Meera?

Q9

Instead of the lengths being 40 cm40\text{ cm}, 60 cm60\text{ cm}, and 80 cm80\text{ cm}, suppose the sidelengths had been 4 cm4\text{ cm}, 6 cm6\text{ cm}, 8 cm8\text{ cm} (this triangle can fit on our page).

Q10

Context: Sidelengths of a triangle are 4 cm4\text{ cm}, 6 cm6\text{ cm}, and 8 cm8\text{ cm}.

Q. Is this information sufficient to replicate the triangle with the same size and shape? If yes, can you do so?

Q11

Examine whether ΔABE\Delta \text{ABE} and ΔABF\Delta \text{ABF} are congruent.

Q12

How can these two triangles be superimposed? Which vertices of ΔXYZ\Delta XYZ and ΔABC\Delta ABC should we overlap? This has to be done so that the equal sides overlap. Figure out how.

Q13

Are there other ways of overlapping the vertices so that the triangles fit exactly over each other?

Q14

Can you identify a pair of congruent triangles below? Why are they congruent?

Consider ΔABD\Delta ABD and ΔCDB\Delta CDB. Since ABCDABCD is a rectangle, we have

AB=CDAD=CB\begin{aligned} \text{AB} &= \text{CD} \\ \text{AD} &= \text{CB} \end{aligned}

If the remaining sides of ΔABD\Delta ABD and ΔCDB\Delta CDB have the same length then the SSS condition is satisfied, confirming the congruence of the two triangles. Is this the case?

Q15

Verify this by superimposing paper cutouts of the triangles obtained from the rectangle ABCDABCD (Fig. 1.1).

Q16

Identify the correct correspondence of vertices and express the congruence between the two triangles.

Q17

Suppose the angles are 3030^\circ, 7070^\circ, and 8080^\circ. Can we create an exact copy of the frame with this?

Q18

ΔABC\Delta ABC and ΔXYZ\Delta XYZ are two triangles such that

AB=XY=6 cmAB = XY = 6\text{ cm}, AC=XZ=5 cmAC = XZ = 5\text{ cm}, and A=X=30\angle A = \angle X = 30^\circ

Are they congruent?

Q19

Context: ΔABC\Delta ABC and ΔXYZ\Delta XYZ are two triangles such that AB=XY=6 cmAB = XY = 6\text{ cm}, AC=XZ=5 cmAC = XZ = 5\text{ cm}, and A=X=30\angle A = \angle X = 30^\circ.

Q. Construct a triangle having the above measurements.

Compare it with the triangles constructed by your classmates. Are the triangles all congruent? Explain why all such triangles with these measurements are congruent.

Q20

ΔABC\Delta ABC and ΔXYZ\Delta XYZ are two triangles such that

AB=XY=6 cmAB = XY = 6\text{ cm}, AC=XZ=4 cmAC = XZ = 4\text{ cm}, and B=Y=30\angle B = \angle Y = 30^\circ

Are they congruent?

Q21

Context: ΔABC\Delta ABC and ΔXYZ\Delta XYZ are two triangles such that AB=XY=6 cmAB = XY = 6\text{ cm}, AC=XZ=4 cmAC = XZ = 4\text{ cm}, and B=Y=30\angle B = \angle Y = 30^\circ.

Q. Can there exist non-congruent triangles having these measurements? Construct and find out.

Q22

ΔABC\Delta \text{ABC} and ΔXYZ\Delta \text{XYZ} are two triangles with,

BC=YZ=5 cm,B=Y=50andC=Z=30\text{BC} = \text{YZ} = 5 \text{ cm}, \quad \angle \text{B} = \angle \text{Y} = 50^\circ \quad \text{and} \quad \angle \text{C} = \angle \text{Z} = 30^\circ

Are they congruent?

Q23

Context: ΔABC\Delta \text{ABC} and ΔXYZ\Delta \text{XYZ} are two triangles with BC=YZ=5 cm\text{BC} = \text{YZ} = 5 \text{ cm}, B=Y=50\angle \text{B} = \angle \text{Y} = 50^\circ, and C=Z=30\angle \text{C} = \angle \text{Z} = 30^\circ.

Q. Can there exist non-congruent triangles having these measurements? Construct and find out.

Q24

In the figure, Point OO is the midpoint of ADAD and BCBC. What can one say about the lengths ABAB and CDCD?

Q25

The following triangles ΔABC\Delta ABC and ΔXYZ\Delta XYZ are such that A=X=35\angle A = \angle X = 35^\circ, C=Z=75\angle C = \angle Z = 75^\circ, and BC=YZ=4 cmBC = YZ = 4\text{ cm}. Are the triangles congruent? Give a reason.

Q26

ΔABC\Delta \text{ABC} and ΔXYZ\Delta \text{XYZ} are right-angled triangles such that BC=YZ=4 cm\text{BC} = \text{YZ} = 4\text{ cm}, B=Y=90\angle \text{B} = \angle \text{Y} = 90^\circ and AC=XZ=5 cm\text{AC} = \text{XZ} = 5\text{ cm}. Are they congruent?

Q27

Context: ΔABC\Delta ABC and ΔXYZ\Delta XYZ are right-angled triangles such that BC=YZ=4 cmBC = YZ = 4\text{ cm}, B=Y=90\angle B = \angle Y = 90^\circ, and AC=XZ=5 cmAC = XZ = 5\text{ cm}.

Q. Can there exist non-congruent triangles having these measurements? Construct and find out.

Q28

Consider the downward extension of line ll below QR\text{QR}. Would the arc from R\text{R} meet this line downwards as well (as in the case of triangle construction when the sidelengths are given)? If so, would this lead to a triangle whose size and shape are different from ΔPQR\Delta \text{PQR}, and yet has the given measurements?

Q29

ΔABC\Delta ABC is isosceles with AB=ACAB = AC, and A=80\angle A = 80^\circ. What can we say about B\angle B and C\angle C?

Construct the altitude from AA to BCBC.

Q30

Context: In ΔABC\Delta ABC, AB=ACAB = AC and A=80\angle A = 80^\circ.

Q. Can you use this fact to find B\angle B and C\angle C?

Q31

Context: All the three angles of an equilateral triangle are equal.

Q. What could be their measures?

Q32

Context: In an equilateral triangle, each angle is 6060^\circ.

Q. Verify this by construction.

Q33

Describe the congruent triangles you see in each picture.

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