Warm-up: There is nothing in your folders!

7.3 Use Similar Right Triangles: Take Two Use properties of the altitude of a right triangle and the Geometric Mean.

The Geometric Mean Of two numbers a and b is the positive number x such that

Geometric Mean Consider right triangle ABC. From Theorem 7.5, you know that altitude CD forms two smaller triangles so that CBD ~ ACD ~ ABC

Geometric Mean Notice that CD is the longer leg of triangle CDB and the shorter leg of triangle ACD.

Proportions involving the Geometric Means of Right Triangles

Theorem 7.6: Geometric Mean (Altitude) Theorem The length of the altitude is the geometric mean of the lengths of the two segments.

Theorem 7.7: Geometric Mean (Leg) Theorem The length of each leg of the right triangle is the geometric mean of the lengths of the hypotenuse and the segment of the hypotenuse that is adjacent to the leg.

EXAMPLE 3 Use a geometric mean Find the value of y. Write your answer in simplest radical form.

Find a height using indirect measurement EXAMPLE 4 Find a height using indirect measurement Rock Climbing Wall To find the cost of installing a rock wall in your school gymnasium, you need to find the height of the gym wall. You use a cardboard square to line up the top and bottom of the gym wall. Your friend measures the vertical distance from the ground to your eye and the distance from you to the gym wall. Approximate the height of the gym wall.

GUIDED PRACTICE for Examples 3 and 4 3. Mary is 5.5 feet tall. How far from the wall in Example 4 would she have to stand in order to measure its height?