# 7.8: Triangle Proportionality

Difficulty Level: At Grade Created by: CK-12
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What if you were given a triangle with a line segment drawn through it from one side to the other? How could you use information about the triangle's side lengths to determine if that line segment is parallel to the third side? After completing this Concept, you'll be able to answer questions like this one.

### Guidance

Think about a midsegment of a triangle. A midsegment is parallel to one side of a triangle and divides the other two sides into congruent halves. The midsegment divides those two sides proportionally.

##### Investigation: Triangle Proportionality

Tools Needed: pencil, paper, ruler

1. Draw \begin{align*}\triangle ABC\end{align*}. Label the vertices.
2. Draw \begin{align*}\overline{XY}\end{align*} so that \begin{align*}X\end{align*} is on \begin{align*}\overline{AB}\end{align*} and \begin{align*}Y\end{align*} is on \begin{align*}\overline{BC}\end{align*}. \begin{align*}X\end{align*} and \begin{align*}Y\end{align*} can be anywhere on these sides.
3. Is \begin{align*}\triangle XBY \sim \triangle ABC\end{align*}? Why or why not? Measure \begin{align*}AX, XB, BY,\end{align*} and \begin{align*}YC\end{align*}. Then set up the ratios \begin{align*}\frac{AX}{XB}\end{align*} and \begin{align*}\frac{YC}{YB}\end{align*}. Are they equal?
4. Draw a second triangle, \begin{align*}\triangle DEF\end{align*}. Label the vertices.
5. Draw \begin{align*}\overline{XY}\end{align*} so that \begin{align*}X\end{align*} is on \begin{align*}\overline{DE}\end{align*} and \begin{align*}Y\end{align*} is on \begin{align*}\overline{EF}\end{align*} AND \begin{align*}\overline{XY} \ || \ \overline{DF}\end{align*}.
6. Is \begin{align*}\triangle XEY \sim \triangle DEF\end{align*}? Why or why not? Measure \begin{align*}DX, XE, EY,\end{align*} and \begin{align*}YF\end{align*}. Then set up the ratios \begin{align*}\frac{DX}{XE}\end{align*} and \begin{align*}\frac{FY}{YE}\end{align*}. Are they equal?

From this investigation, it is clear that if the line segments are parallel, then \begin{align*}\overline{XY}\end{align*} divides the sides proportionally.

Triangle Proportionality Theorem: If a line parallel to one side of a triangle intersects the other two sides, then it divides those sides proportionally.

Triangle Proportionality Theorem Converse: If a line divides two sides of a triangle proportionally, then it is parallel to the third side.

Proof of the Triangle Proportionality Theorem:

Given: \begin{align*}\triangle ABC\end{align*} with \begin{align*}\overline{DE} \ || \ \overline{AC}\end{align*}

Prove: \begin{align*}\frac{AD}{DB}=\frac{CE}{EB}\end{align*}

Statement Reason
1. \begin{align*}\overline{DE} \ || \ \overline{AC}\end{align*} Given
2. \begin{align*}\angle 1 \cong \angle 2, \angle 3 \cong \angle 4\end{align*} Corresponding Angles Postulate
3. \begin{align*}\triangle ABC \sim \triangle DBE\end{align*} AA Similarity Postulate
4. \begin{align*}AD + DB = AB, EC + EB = BC\end{align*} Segment Addition Postulate
5. \begin{align*}\frac{AB}{BD}=\frac{BC}{BE}\end{align*} Corresponding sides in similar triangles are proportional
6. \begin{align*}\frac{AD+DB}{BD}=\frac{EC+EB}{BE}\end{align*} Substitution PoE
7. \begin{align*}\frac{AD}{BD}+\frac{DB}{DB}=\frac{EC}{BE}+\frac{BE}{BE}\end{align*} Separate the fractions
8. \begin{align*}\frac{AD}{BD}+1=\frac{EC}{BE}+1\end{align*} Substitution PoE (something over itself always equals 1)
9. \begin{align*}\frac{AD}{BD}=\frac{EC}{BE}\end{align*} Subtraction PoE

#### Example A

A triangle with its midsegment is drawn below. What is the ratio that the midsegment divides the sides into?

The midsegment’s endpoints are the midpoints of the two sides it connects. The midpoints split the sides evenly. Therefore, the ratio would be \begin{align*}a:a\end{align*} or \begin{align*}b:b\end{align*}. Both of these reduce to 1:1.

#### Example B

In the diagram below, \begin{align*}\overline{EB} \ || \ \overline{CD}\end{align*}. Find \begin{align*}BC\end{align*}.

Use the Triangle Proportionality Theorem.

\begin{align*}\frac{10}{15} = \frac{BC}{12} \longrightarrow 15(BC) &= 120\\ BC &= 8\end{align*}

#### Example C

Is \begin{align*}\overline{DE} \ || \ \overline{CB}\end{align*}?

Use the Triangle Proportionality Converse. If the ratios are equal, then the lines are parallel.

\begin{align*}\frac{6}{18}=\frac{1}{3}\end{align*} and \begin{align*}\frac{8}{24}=\frac{1}{3}\end{align*}

Because the ratios are equal, \begin{align*}\overline{DE} \ || \ \overline{CB}\end{align*}.

Watch this video for help with the Examples above.

### Vocabulary

A line segment that connects two midpoints of the sides of a triangle is called a midsegment. A midpoint is a point that divides a segment into two equal pieces. Pairs of numbers are proportional if they are in the same ratio.

### Guided Practice

Use the diagram to answers questions 1-5. \begin{align*}\overline{DB} \| \overline{FE}\end{align*}.

1. Name the similar triangles. Write the similarity statement.

2. \begin{align*}\frac{BE}{EC} = \frac{?}{FC}\end{align*}

3. \begin{align*}\frac{EC}{CB} = \frac{CF}{?}\end{align*}

4. \begin{align*}\frac{DB}{?} = \frac{BC}{EC}\end{align*}

5. \begin{align*}\frac{FC+?}{FC} = \frac{?}{FE}\end{align*}

1. \begin{align*}\triangle DBC \sim \triangle FEC\end{align*}

2. DF

3. DC

4. FE

5. DF; DB

### Practice

Use the diagram to answer questions 1-5. \begin{align*}\overline{AB} \ || \ \overline{DE}\end{align*}.

1. Find \begin{align*}BD\end{align*}.
2. Find \begin{align*}DC\end{align*}.
3. Find \begin{align*}DE\end{align*}.
4. Find \begin{align*}AC\end{align*}.
5. What is \begin{align*}BD:DC\end{align*}?
6. What is \begin{align*}DC:BC\end{align*}?
7. We know that \begin{align*}\frac{BD}{DC}=\frac{AE}{EC}\end{align*} and \begin{align*}\frac{BA}{DE}=\frac{BC}{DC}\end{align*}. Why is \begin{align*}\frac{BA}{DE} \neq \frac{BD}{DC}\end{align*}?

Use the given lengths to determine if \begin{align*}\overline{AB} \ || \ \overline{DE}\end{align*}.

Find the unknown length.

1. What is the ratio that the midsegment divides the sides into?

### Notes/Highlights Having trouble? Report an issue.

Color Highlighted Text Notes

### Vocabulary Language: English

TermDefinition
Congruent Congruent figures are identical in size, shape and measure.
midsegment A midsegment connects the midpoints of two sides of a triangle or the non-parallel sides of a trapezoid.
Parallel Two or more lines are parallel when they lie in the same plane and never intersect. These lines will always have the same slope.
Proportion A proportion is an equation that shows two equivalent ratios.
Triangle Proportionality Theorem The Triangle Proportionality Theorem states that if a line is parallel to one side of a triangle and it intersects the other two sides, then it divides those sides proportionally.
Triangle Proportionality Theorem Converse The Triangle Proportionality Theorem converse states that if a line divides two sides of a triangle proportionally, then it is parallel to the third side.

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