CHAPTER

6 Triangles

68 Mathematics-X
Key Points:
1. Two polygons of the same number of sides are similar, if (i) all the corresponding
angles are equal and (ii) all the corresponding sides are in the same ratio
(proportion).
2. Criteria for Similarity of triangles
In ABC and DEF
(i) If A =D, B = E and C = F, then ABC ~ DEF by AAA
Similarity.

AB BC
(ii) If = and B = E, then ABC ~ DEF by SAS Similarity..
DE EF

AB AC BC
(iii) If = = then ABC ~ DEF by SSS Similarity..
DE DF EF
3. (a) (Prove) Basic Proportionality Theorem : If a line is drawn parallel to
one side of a triangle to intersect the other sides in distinct points, the other
two sides are divided in the same ratio.
(b) (Motivate)Converse of BPT Theorem : If a line divides any two sides of
a triangle in the same ratio, then the line is parallel to the third side. (without
proof).

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. In the given figure AB || PQ. If AB = 6cm, PQ = 2cm and OB = 3cm, then the
lenght of OP is:

(a) 9cm (b) 3cm (c) 4cm (d) 1cm

Mathematics-X 69
 PX PY 1
2. In the following figure, XY || QR and = = , then
XQ YR 2
P

X Y

Q R
1
(a) XY = QR (b) XY = QR
3
1
(c) XY2 = QR2 (d) XY = QR
2

3. In the following figure, QA  AB and PB  AB, then AQ is

P

10 units O 9 units
A B
6 units

Q
(a) 15 units (b) 8 units
(c) 5 units (d) 9 units

4. If ABC ~ EDF and ABC is not similar to DEF, then which of the following
is not true? (NCERT Exemplar)
(a) BC.EF = AC.FD (b) AB.EF = AC.DE
(c) BC.DE = AB.EF (d) BC.DE = AB.FD

70 Mathematics-X
 VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

5. In the given Figure, M = N = 46°, Express x in terms of a, b and c.

L

P
a
x
46° 46°
M b N c K

6. In the given Figure, AHK ~ ABC. If AK = 10 cm, BC = 3.5 cm and

HK = 7 cm, find AC. (CBSE 2010)
H

A
C K

B
7. If DEF ~ RPQ, then is it true to say that D = R and F = P?
8. If the corresponding medians of two similar triangles are in the ratio 5 : 7, then
find the ratio of their sides.
9. In the given figure, if ABC ~ PQR, find the value of x?

A
R x Q

6 cm 5 cm 3.75 cm 4.5 cm

B C
4 cm
P

Mathematics-X 71
 PX PY 1
10. In the given figure, XY || QR and = = , find XY : QR.
XQ YR 2

X Y

Q R

11. In the given figure, find the value of x which will make DE || AB ?
(NCERT Exemplar)
A B
3x + 19 3x + 4
E D

x+3 x
C
12. If ∆ABC and DEF are similar triangles such that A = 45° and F = 56°, then
find the value of ∠C.
13. If the ratio of the corresponding sides of two similar triangles is 2 : 3, then find
the ratio of their corresponding attitudes.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS-I

BD CE
14. In the given figure = , then prove that DE || BC.
AB AC

D E

B C

72 Mathematics-X
 BE BC
15. In the given figure, DE || AC and DC || AP Prove that = . (CBSE 2020)
EC CP

PM PN
16. In ∆PQR, MN || QR, using B.P.T. prove that PQ = PR .

17. In the given figure, D and E are points on sides AB and CA of ∆ABC such that
B = AED. Show that ABC ~ AED.
A

D
E

B C
18. In the given figure, AB || DC and diagonals AC and BD intersects at O. If OA =
3x – 1 and OB = 2x + 1, OC = 5x – 3 and OD = 6x – 5, find the value of x.
D C
6x –
5 5x – 3
1 O 2x +
3x – 1
A B

19. In the given figure, PQR is a right angled triangle in which Q = 
If XY || QR, PQ = 6 cm, PY = 4 cm and PX : XQ = 1 : 2, then find the lengths
of PR and QR.

X Y

Q R

Mathematics-X 73
20. In the given figure, AB || DE. Find the length of CD.
B

6 cm
5 cm

A
C
E

3 cm

D
21. In the given figure, ABCD is a parallelogram. AE divides the line segment BD
in the ratio 1 : 2. If BE = 1.5 cm, find BC.

D C

O E

A B

22. In the given figure, ODC ~ OBA, BOC = 115° and CDO = 70°. Find,
(i) DOC, (ii) DCO, (iii) OAB, (iv) OBA.
D C
70°

O 115°

A B
23. In the given figure, AB || DE and BD || EF prove that DC2 = CF × AC

74 Mathematics-X
 AD BE
24. In the given figure, and CDE CED . Prove that �CAB is
DC EC
isosceles.

25. In the given figure, QS || BA, QR || CA and PQ = 10 cm. Find PB × PC.

26. In the given figure, FEC GBD and 1 2 . Prove that ADE � ABC .

Mathematics-X 75
 SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS-II

BC ² BD
27. In ABC, ACB = 90° and CD ⊥ ΑΒ. Prove that: = .
AC ² AD

28. In the adjoining figure ABC and DBC are on the same base BC. AD and BC
area (∆ ABC) AO
intersect at O. Prove that = . (CBSE 2020)
area (∆ DBC) DO

A C

B D

39. If AD and PS are medians of ABC and PQR respectively where ABC ~
AB AD
PQR, Prove that = .
PQ PS
30. In the given figure, DE || AC. Which of the following is correct?

a+b ay
x= or x=
ay a+b B

E D
x
b
C y A

76 Mathematics-X
31. If three parallel lines are intersected by two transversals, then prove that the
intercepts made by them on the transversals are proportional.
32. A street light bulb is fixed on a pole 6 m above the level of the street. If a woman
of height 1.5 m casts a shadow of 3 m, find how far she is away from the base of
the pole.
(NCERT Exemplar)
33. Two poles of height a metres and b metres are p metres apart. Prove that the
height of the point of intersection of the lines joining the top of each pole to the
ab
foot of the opposite pole is given by metres.
a+b
34. In the given figure, AB || PQ || CD, AB = x, CD = y and PQ = z. Prove that
1 1 1
+ = .
x y z
A

C
x P
y
z
B D
Q
AD AE
35. In the given figure, D = E and = . Prove that ∆BAC is an isosceles
DB EC
triangle. (CBSE 2020)

Mathematics-X 77
36. In the given figure, a point O inside ABC is joined to its vertices. From a point
D on AO, DE is drawn parallel to AB and from a point E on BO, EF is drawn
parallel to BC. Prove that DF || AC.
A

D
O
E F
B C
37. Two triangles ∆BAC and ∆BDC, right angled at A and D respectively are drawn
on the same base BC and on the same side of BC. If AC and DB intersect at P,
then prove that AP × PC = DP × PB. (CBSE 2019)

38. In the given figure, P is the mid point of BC and Q is the mid point of AP. If BQ
1
when produced meets AC at R, prove that RA = CA. (CBSE)
3
A

R
Q

B C
P

78 Mathematics-X
 LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

BE BC
39. In the given figure, DE || AC and = . Prove that DC || AP..
EC CP
A

B E C P

40. In ABC, AD is a median, X is a point on AD such that AX : XD = 2 : 3. Ray BX

intersects side AC in Y. Prove that BX = 4XY.

41. Through the vertex D of a parallelogram ABCD, a line is drawn to intersect the
DA FB FC
sides BA and BC produced at E and F respectively. Prove that = = .
AE BE CD
42. If a line is drawn parallel to one side of a triangle to intersect the other two
sides in distinct points, then prove that the other two sides are divided in the
same ratio.
(CBSE 2019, 2020)
43. Through the mid point M of the side CD of a parallelogram ABCD, the line BM
is drawn intersecting AC in L and AD produced in E. Prove that EL = 2BL.
44. In the given figure, AEF = AFE and E is the mid-point of CA. Prove that
BD BF
= .
CD CE

Mathematics-X 79
45. Sides AB and AC and median AD of ABC are respectively proportional to
sides PQ and PR and median PM of PQR. Show that ABC ~ PQR.
(CBSE 2020)
46. In figure if ABC ~ DEF and their sides of lengths (in cm) are marked along
them, then find the lengths of sides of each triangle. (CBSE 2020)

A D

2x – 1 3x 18 6x

B C E F
2x + 2 3x + 9

47. The Perimeters of two similar triangles are 30 cm and 20 cm repsectively. If

one side of the first triangle is 9 cm long. Find the length of the corresponding
side of the second triangle. (CBSE 2020)

BD AB
48. If in ABC, D be a point on BC such that , then show that AD is
DC AC
bisector of �A.

80 Mathematics-X
 ANSWERS AND HINTS

1. (d) 1cm
1
2. (b) XY = QR
3
3. (a) 15 units
4. (c) BC.DE = AB.EF
5. KPN ~ KLM
x c
=
a b+c

ac
x=
b+c

AK HK 10 7
6. =  =  AC = 5 cm
AC BC AC 3.5
7. D = R (True)
F = P (False)
8. 5:7

AB BC 6 4
9. =  =  x = 3cm
PQ QR 4.5 x
10. PXY ~ PQR

PX XY 1
= =
PQ QR 3
 XY : QR = 1 : 3
x+3 x
11. = (By B.P.T.)
3 x + 19 3x + 4
x=2
12. F = C = 56°
13. 2 : 3

Mathematics-X 81
 BD CE
14. =
AB AC
Subtracting 1 from reciprocal
AB AC
−1 = −1
BD CE
AD AE
=
BD CE
⇒ DE || BC
AD EC
15. DE || AC, = ...(1) [ BPT]
DB BE
AD CP
DC || AP, = ...(2) [ BPT]
DB BC
From (1) and (2), we get

BE BC
=
EC CP
P
16. In ∆PQR, MN || QR
MQ NR
=
PM PN M N

Adding 1 to both sides and we get

PQ PR Q R
=
PM PN
PM PN
⇒ PQ = PR

17. B = AED (Given)

A = A (Common)
 ABC ~ AED [AA similarity criterion]
18. AOB ~ COD
D C
6x
– 5 3
5x –
1 O
2x
3x – +1
A B
82 Mathematics-X
 3x − 1 2x + 1 1
=  x= or 2
5x − 3 6x − 5 2
1
But x = is neglected because (5x – 3) and (6x–5) get negative value.
2
So, x = 2 is the required value.
PX PY 1 4
19. = ⇒ =  YR = 8 cm
XQ YR 2 YR
 PR = 8 + 4 = 12 cm

QR = (12) 2 − (6) 2 = 6 3 cm

20. ABC ~ EDC (AA Similarity criterion)

6 5
=
3 CD
CD = 2.5 cm
21. BOE ~ DOA (AA Similarity criterion)

BO BE
=
DO DA

1 1.5
=
2 DA
DA = 3 cm
BC = DA = 3 cm (Opposite sides of a parallelogram)
22. (i) 65°
(ii) 45°
(iii) 45°
(iv) 70°
23. In ∆CAB, DE || AB

DC CE
⇒ = ...(1)
AC BC
Mathematics-X 83
 In ∆CDB, BD || EF

CF CE
= ...(2)
DC BC

DC CF
⇒ =
AC DC
⇒ DC2 = CF × AC
24. In ∆CAB

AD BE
⇒ =
DC EC
⇒ DE || AB (Converse of B.P.T.)
⇒ ∠A = ∠D, ∠B = ∠E
⇒ ∠A = ∠B
⇒ ∆ABC is isosceles.
25. In ∆PSQ

PB PR
= ...(1)
PQ PS

In ∆PSC

PQ PR
=
PC PS

PB PQ
=
PQ PC

⇒ PB × PC = (PQ)2
⇒ PB × PC = 100 cm2
26. EC = BD ( ∆FEC ≅ ∆GBD)
AD = AE ( ∠1 = ∠2)

84 Mathematics-X
 AE AD
=
EC BD
⇒ DE || BC
⇒ ∆ADE ∼ ∆ABC
27. ABC ~ CBD
 BC2 = AB.BD ...(1)
ABC ~ ACD
 AC2 = AB.AD ...(2)
Divide (1) by (2), we get

BC2 BD
2 =
AC AD
28. Draw AX  BC and DY  BC
1
ar (∆ ABC) × BC× AX
2 AX
= 1 = ...(1)
ar (∆ DBC) × BC× DY DY
2
A C
Y

O
X
B D
AXO ~ DYO [AA similarity criterion]
AX AO
= ...(2) (C.P.S.T.)
DY DO
From (1) and (2), we get
ar (∆ ABC) AO
=
ar (∆ DBC) DO

Mathematics-X 85
29.

C
1
BC
AB BC 2 BD
As ABC ~ PQR, Hence B = Q and = = 1 =
PQ QR QR QS
2
In ABD and PQS
AB BD
= and B = Q.
PQ QS
 ABD ~ PQS (SAS Similarity criterion).
AB AD
Hence, = (C.P.S.T.)
PQ PS
30. BED ~ BCA
x a
=
y a+b
ay p q
x=
a+b A B
l1
31. l1 || l2 || l3
Constr: Join BE
C D
Proof: In ABE X
l2

AC BX
= ...(1) E F
CE XE l3
In BEF
BX BD
= ...(2)
XE DF
AC BD
⇒ =
CE DF

86 Mathematics-X
32. ABE ~ CDE
AB BE
=
CD DE

6 3 + BD
=
1.5 3
BD = 9m
ab
33. To prove : EF =
a+b
Proof : AB || EF || DC
EFC ~ ABC A

EF FC
= ...(1) D
AB BC
BFE ~ BCD
am
E
bm

EF BF
= ...(2)
CD BC
B F C
Adding (1) and (2), we get pm

EF EF FC+ BF
+ =
AB CD BC

 1 1  BC
EF  +
 AB CD  BC
=

1 1 
EF  +  = 1
a b

ab
EF =
a+b

34. Same as Q. 33.

Mathematics-X 87
 AD AE
35. =
DB EC
By converse of BPT, DE || BC
 D = B and E = C (Corresponding Angles)
But D = E
So, B = C
 AB = AC
So, ABC is an isosceles triangle.

OD OE
36. In OAB, = .... (1) ( BPT)
DA EB

OE OF
In OBC, = .... (2) ( BPT)
EB FC
From (1) and (2), we get
OD OF
=
DA FC
By converse of BPT, DF || AC.

37. APB ~ DPC (AA Similarity criterion)

AP PB
= ( C.P.S.T.)
DP PC
AP.PC = DP.PB
A

38. Draw PS || BR
In ∆CBR R
Q
PS || BR S
⇒ CS = SR ....(1)
In ∆APS B
D
C

AR = RS ....(2)
From (1) and (2)

88 Mathematics-X
 AR = RS = SC

1
AR = AC
3
39. In ∆BCA
BE BD BE BC
= (B.P.T.) and = (given)
EC DA EC CP

BD BC
⇒ =
DA CP
⇒ DC || AP (Converse of B.P.T.)
40. Draw DZ || BY
A
∆AXY ~ ∆ADZ
AX XY
⇒ = Y
AD DZ
X
⇒ 2DZ = 5XY Z
Now, ∆CDZ ~ ∆CBY
B C
D
CD DZ
= ⇒ BY = 2DZ
CB BY
⇒ BX = 4XY
41. EAD ~ EBF
F
EA AD
=
EB BF

BF AD D
 = (1) C
BE AE
∆DCF ~ ∆EBF

DC CF
=
EB BF E A B

Mathematics-X 89
 BF CF
or = (2)
EB CD

AD FB FC
from (1) and (2) = =
AE BE CD
42. Theorem 6.1 of NCERT.
A D
43. ∆ BMC ≅ ∆EMD E

BC = DE
& AD = BC L M

⇒ AE = 2BC
B
Now, ∆AEL ~ ∆CBL C

⇒ EL = 2BL
B
M
44. Draw CM || DF, F
In ∆ACM A
C E
EF || CM

AE AF
⇒ =
CE FM D

⇒ CE = MF
In ∆BDF

BD BF BD BF
= ⇒ =
CD MF CD CE
45. In ∆ABC and ∆PQR

AB AC AD
= = ...(1)
PQ PR PM
Extend AD to a point E such that AD = DE and PM to point L such that
PM = ML

90 Mathematics-X
 A P

B C Q R
D M

E L

quadrilateral of ABEC and PQLR are parallelogram

(� diagonals bisect each other)
AC = BE, AB = EC
PR = QL, PQ = LR ....(2)
From (1) and (2)

AB BE 2 AD AE
= = =
PQ QL 2 PM PL
ABE ~ PQL
ABE = PQL ...(3)
Similarly, AEC ~ PLR
CAE = RPL ...(4)
CAB = RPQ (from 3 and 4)
In ABC and PQR

AB AC
= and CAB = RPQ
PQ PR
ABC ~ PQR

AB BC CA
46. = = (� ABC ~ DEF)
DE EF FD

2x 1 2x 2 3x
= =
18 3x 9 6x

Mathematics-X 91
 Solving, we get x = 5
AB = 9 cm BC = 12 cm AC = 15 cm
DE = 18 cm EF = 24 cm FD = 30 cm
47. ABC ~ DEF

AB BC AC
= = =k
DE EF DF
AB = kDE, BC = kEF, AC = kDF
AB + BC + AC = k (DE + EF + DF)

30 9
= x = 6 cm
20 x
48. Constr: Produce BA upto L such that AL = AC, Join CL
Proof: In ACL 3 = 4
In BCL

BD AB
(� AC AL)
DC AL
DA || CL
1= 4
2= 3
1= 2
Hence, AD is bisector of A.

92 Mathematics-X
 PRACTICE-TEST
Triangles
Time : 45 minutes M.M. : 20
SECTION - A
1. In the given figure, ∆ABC ~ ∆PQR, then find (m + n)

2. In the given figure, DE || QR, PQ = 5.6 cm and PD = 1.6 cm. Find PE : ER.

3. ABC is such that AB = 3cm, BC = 2cm and CA = 2.5 cm. If ∆PQR ~ ∆ABC
and QR = 6 cm, then find the perimeter of ∆PQR is _________. 1
AB BC AC
4. If in two triangles ABC and DEF, = = , then
DE EF FD
(a) ∆BCA ~ ∆FDE (b) ∆FDE ~ ∆ABC
(c) ∆CBA ~ ∆FDE (d) ∆FDE ~ ∆CAB

SECTION B
5. In the given figure, QR || BC and QP || AC. If PB = 12 cm, PC = 20 cm and
AR = BQ = 15 cm, calculate AQ and CR. 2

Mathematics-X 93
6. In the given figure, BD ⊥ AC and CE ⊥ AB. Prove that BP × PD = EP × PC.

7. If one diagonal of a trapezium divides the other diagonal in the ratio 1 : 3, prove that
one of the parallel sideds is three times the other. 2
SECTION C
8. In the given figure, if AB ⊥ BC, PO ⊥ AC and MN ⊥ BC, prove that
∆APQ ~ ∆MCN .

9. E is a point on the side AD produced of a prallelogram ABCD and BE interects

CD at F. Show that AB × BC = AE × CF. 3
SECTION D
10. State and prove Basic Proportionality Theorem. 4

94 Mathematics-X