Find the Side Ratio: Comparing Triangles ABC and MNA in Geometric Analysis

Similar Triangles with Side Ratio Calculations

AAABBBCCCMMMNNN36 What is the ratio between the sides of the triangles ΔABC and ΔMNA?

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Step-by-step video solution

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00:00 Find the similarity ratio
00:03 Equal angles according to given data
00:07 The triangles share the same vertex angle
00:15 Similar triangles by AA
00:24 Let's find the similarity ratio
00:30 Similarity ratio is always the side opposite to the equal angle
00:41 We'll substitute appropriate values according to the given data and solve for the ratio
00:49 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

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1

Understand the problem

AAABBBCCCMMMNNN36 What is the ratio between the sides of the triangles ΔABC and ΔMNA?

2

Step-by-step solution

From the data in the drawing, it seems that angle M is equal to angle B

Also, angle A is an angle shared by both triangles ABC and AMN

That is, triangles ABC and AMN are similar respectively according to the angle-angle theorem.

According to the letters, the sides that are equal to each other are:

ABAM=BCMN=ACAN \frac{AB}{AM}=\frac{BC}{MN}=\frac{AC}{AN}

Now we can calculate the ratio between the sides of the given triangles:

MN=3,BC=6 MN=3,BC=6 63=2 \frac{6}{3}=2

3

Final Answer

BCMN=2 \frac{BC}{MN}=2

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Similarity Rule: Similar triangles have equal corresponding angles and proportional sides
  • Technique: Identify corresponding sides: BC = 6, MN = 3, so BCMN=63=2 \frac{BC}{MN} = \frac{6}{3} = 2
  • Check: Verify angle equality and calculate ratio consistently for all corresponding sides ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Writing the ratio in wrong order
    Don't write MNBC=36 \frac{MN}{BC} = \frac{3}{6} when comparing triangle ABC to triangle MNA! This gives the reciprocal ratio and confuses which triangle is larger. Always match the order: when comparing ABC to MNA, write BCMN=63=2 \frac{BC}{MN} = \frac{6}{3} = 2 .

Practice Quiz

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If it is known that both triangles are equilateral, are they therefore similar?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

How do I know which sides correspond to each other?

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Look at the angle markings and position of vertices! In triangles ABC and MNA, angle A is shared, and the angle marks show angle B equals angle M. This means BC corresponds to MN.

What does the ratio 2 actually mean?

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The ratio BCMN=2 \frac{BC}{MN} = 2 means triangle ABC is twice as large as triangle MNA. Every corresponding side of ABC is 2 times longer than the matching side of MNA.

Why are these triangles similar?

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These triangles are similar by AA (Angle-Angle) similarity! They share angle A, and the angle marks show angle B = angle M. Two equal angles is enough to prove similarity.

Do I need to find all three ratios?

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No! Once you prove triangles are similar, all corresponding sides have the same ratio. Finding one ratio like BCMN=2 \frac{BC}{MN} = 2 tells you the ratio for the entire triangles.

What if the numbers were different?

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The method stays the same! Always identify corresponding sides, divide the lengths in the correct order, and simplify. The ratio might be 32 \frac{3}{2} , 54 \frac{5}{4} , or any other fraction.

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