Question

Draw a triangle ABC with side BC = 7 cm, ∠B = 45°, ∠A = 105°. Then, construct a triangle whose sides are times the corresponding side of ΔABC. Give the justification of the construction.

Answer 1

∠B = 45°, ∠A = 105°

Sum of all interior angles in a triangle is 180°.

∠A + ∠B + ∠C = 180°

105° + 45° + ∠C = 180°

∠C = 180° − 150°

∠C = 30°

The required triangle can be drawn as follows.

Step 1

Draw a ΔABC with side BC = 7 cm, ∠B = 45°, ∠C = 30°.

Step 2

Draw a ray BX making an acute angle with BC on the opposite side of vertex A.

Step 3

Locate 4 points (as 4 is greater in 4 and 3), B_1, B_2, B_3, B₄, on BX.

Step 4

Join B₃C. Draw a line through B₄ parallel to B₃C intersecting extended BC at C'.

Step 5

Through C', draw a line parallel to AC intersecting extended line segment at C'. ΔA'BC' is the required triangle.

Justification

The construction can be justified by proving that

In ΔABC and ΔA'BC',

∠ABC = ∠A'BC' (Common)

∠ACB = ∠A'C'B (Corresponding angles)

∴ ΔABC ∼ ΔA'BC' (AA similarity criterion)

… (1)

In ΔBB₃C and ΔBB₄C',

∠B₃BC = ∠B₄BC' (Common)

∠BB₃C = ∠BB₄C' (Corresponding angles)

∴ ΔBB₃C ∼ ΔBB₄C' (AA similarity criterion)

On comparing equations (1) and (2), we obtain

⇒

This justifies the construction.