Application of Similarity of Triangles

By Team Aakash Byju's | 8th November 2022

In the Given Figure if DE∥BC, AD = 3 cm, BD = 4 cm & BC = 5 cm. Find (i) AE : EC  (ii) the measure of DE.

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B

A

C

E

D

With the reference to the given image, the correct answers are  (i) AE: EC = 3:4 and  (ii) DE = 2     cm.

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Detailed Explanation

Arrow

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B

A

C

E

D

In the image, it is given that DE is parallel to BC and DE intersects the other two sides AB and AC at two distinct points.

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B

A

C

E

D

According to Thales Theorem, if a line parallel to any one side of the triangle intersects the other 2 sides at distinct points, then

In a △ABC, if  DE ∥ BC, then

AE

EC

=

AD

DB

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B

A

C

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we can write

AE

EC

=

3

4

or

AE: EC = 3:4

Since,

AD

BD

=

AD

BD

AE

EC

3

4

and

=

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B

A

C

E

D

Further, from the image given in the question, it can be noticed that   ∠A = ∠A, ∠D = ∠B and ∠E = ∠C

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Thus, we can say △ADE and △ABC are similar by  Angle-Angle similarity.   △ADE △ABC

B

A

C

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D

We know that in similar triangles, all three sides of one triangle are in proportion with the corresponding sides of the other triangle.

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B

A

C

E

D

AE

AC

AD

AB

DE

BC

3

4

AD

AD

BD

DE

BC

3

3

4

DE

5

3

7

DE

5

or

DE

15

7

2

1

7

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

+

+

(

(

)

)

cm.

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E

B

A

C

D