1. Altitudes Recall that an altitude is a segment drawn from a vertex that is perpendicular to the opposite of a triangle. Every triangle has three altitudes.

2. Altitudes In a right triangle, two of these altitudes are the two legs of the triangle. The other one is drawn perpendicular to the hypotenuse. Altitudes:

3. Altitudes Notice that this third altitude creates three right triangles. Is there something special about those triangles? Altitudes:

4. Index Card Activity Step 1: On your index card, draw a diagonal. Cut along this diagonal to separate your right triangles.

5. Index Card Activity Step 2: On one of the right triangles, fold the paper to create the altitude from the right angle to the hypotenuse. Cut along this fold line to separate your right triangles.

6. Index Card Activity Step 2: On one of the right triangles, fold the paper to create the altitude from the right angle to the hypotenuse. Cut along this fold line to separate your right triangles.

7. Index Card Activity Step 2: On one of the right triangles, fold the paper to create the altitude from the right angle to the hypotenuse. Cut along this fold line to separate your right triangles.

8. Index Card Activity Step 3: Notice that the small and medium triangle can be stacked on the large triangle so that the side they share is the third altitude of the large triangle.

9. Index Card Activity Step 3: Label the angles of each triangle to match the diagram. Be sure to label all three triangles. In fact, label the back of each of them too.

10. Index Card Activity Step 4: Arrange all three triangles so that they are nested. What does this demonstrate? Why must this be true?

11. Index Card Activity Step 5: Write a similarity statement involving the large, medium, and small triangles.

12. Example 2 Find the value of x.

13. Geometric Mean The geometric mean of two positive numbers a and b is the positive number x that satisfies This is just the square root of their product!

14. Example 3 Find the geometric mean of 12 and 27.

15. Example 4 Find the value of x.

16. Altitudes Recall that an altitude is a segment drawn from a vertex that is perpendicular to the opposite of a triangle. Every triangle has three altitudes.

17. Altitudes In a right triangle, two of these altitudes are the two legs of the triangle. The other one is drawn perpendicular to the hypotenuse. Altitudes:

18. Altitudes Notice that this third altitude creates three right triangles. Is there something special about those triangles? Altitudes:

19. 7.3 Use Similar Right Triangles Objectives: 1.To find the geometric mean of two numbers 2.To find missing lengths in similar right triangles involving the altitude to the hypotenuse

20. Right Triangle Similarity Theorem If the altitude is drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle, then the two triangles formed are similar to the original triangle and to each other.

21. Example 1 Identify the similar triangles in the diagram.

22. Example 5 The altitude to the hypotenuse divides the hypotenuse into two segments. What is the relationship between the altitude and these two segments?

23. Geometric Mean Theorem I Geometric Mean (Altitude) Theorem In a right triangle, the altitude from the right angle to the hypotenuse divides the hypotenuse into two segments. The length of the altitude is the geometric mean of the lengths of the two segments.

24. Geometric Mean Tripod Theorem Geometric Mean Theorem 1 In a right triangle, the altitude from the right angle to the hypotenuse divides the hypotenuse into two segments. The length of the altitude is the geometric mean of the lengths of the two segments. a b xx

25. Example 6 Find the value of w.

26. Example 7 Find the value of x.

27. Geometric Mean Theorem II Geometric Mean (Leg) Theorem 2 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.

28. Geometric Mean Tripod Theorem 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. c b b y

29. Example 8 Find the value of b.

30. Example 9 Find the value of variable. 1. w =2. k =

31. Assignment P. 361: 32, 34, 36 P. 453-456: 1-3, 5-23, 30, 31, 33, 38, 39 Challenge Problems