Geometric Twins | IT

Question 9

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).

Check your answer with HomiSolve it yourself, then let Homi check your steps and spot mistakes.
Solution
Understand the Question
  • Given side lengths are a=4 cma = 4\text{ cm}, b=6 cmb = 6\text{ cm}, and c=8 cmc = 8\text{ cm}.
  • Triangle Inequality Theorem: A triangle is valid if and only if the sum of any two sides is greater than the third side (a+b>ca+b>c, b+c>ab+c>a, and a+c>ba+c>b).
  • Classification:
    • By sides: Scalene (all sides unequal), Isosceles (two sides equal), or Equilateral (all sides equal).
    • By angles: Compare a2+b2a^2 + b^2 with c2c^2, where cc is the longest side (a2+b2<c2a^2+b^2 < c^2 indicates an obtuse-angled triangle).
  • SSS Congruence: Any two triangles with identical side lengths are congruent.

Step 1 · Check Triangle Inequality

Let the side lengths be a=4 cma = 4\text{ cm}, b=6 cmb = 6\text{ cm}, and c=8 cmc = 8\text{ cm}.Diagram 1

Check all three conditions for the triangle inequality:

4+6=10>84+8=12>66+8=14>4\begin{aligned} 4 + 6 &= 10 > 8 \\ 4 + 8 &= 12 > 6 \\ 6 + 8 &= 14 > 4 \end{aligned}

Since the sum of any two sides is greater than the third side, a triangle can be formed.

Step 2 · Classify by Side Lengths

The side lengths are 4 cm4\text{ cm}, 6 cm6\text{ cm}, and 8 cm8\text{ cm}.

Since all three sides have different lengths, the triangle is scalene.

Step 3 · Classify by Angles

Let the longest side be c=8 cmc = 8\text{ cm}, and the other sides be a=4 cma = 4\text{ cm} and b=6 cmb = 6\text{ cm}.

a2+b2=42+62=16+36=52\begin{aligned} a^2 + b^2 &= 4^2 + 6^2 \\ &= 16 + 36 \\ &= 52 \end{aligned} c2=82=64\begin{aligned} c^2 &= 8^2 \\ &= 64 \end{aligned}

Comparing the values: 52<64    a2+b2<c252 < 64 \implies a^2 + b^2 < c^2

Therefore, the triangle is obtuse-angled.

Step 4 · Check Congruence

By the SSS (Side-Side-Side) congruence criterion, any triangle constructed with side lengths 4 cm4\text{ cm}, 6 cm6\text{ cm}, and 8 cm8\text{ cm} will be congruent to any other triangle with the same side lengths.

Answer

The triangle is scalene, obtuse-angled, and any two triangles with these side lengths are congruent by the SSS criterion.

Common Mistakes
  • Partial Inequality Check: Only checking one pair of sides (e.g., 6+8>46 + 8 > 4) instead of verifying that the sum of the two smaller sides exceeds the largest side (4+6>84 + 6 > 8).
  • Angle Classification Rule: Confusing a2+b2<c2a^2 + b^2 < c^2 (obtuse-angled) with a2+b2>c2a^2 + b^2 > c^2 (acute-angled).

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.

← Back to Geometric Twins