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# Triangle Proportionality

## Sides divided by a line parallel to the third side of a triangle.

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Triangle Proportionality

### Triangle Proportionality Theorem

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. But what about another line that is parallel, but does not divide the other two sides into congruent halves? In fact, such a line will still divide the sides proportionally. This is called the Triangle Proportionality Theorem.

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

If DE¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯AC¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯\begin{align*}\overline{DE} \| \overline{AC}\end{align*}, then BDDA=BEEC\begin{align*}\frac{BD}{DA} = \frac{BE}{EC}\end{align*}. (DABD=ECBE\begin{align*}\frac{DA}{BD} = \frac{EC}{BE}\end{align*} is also a true proportion.)

The converse of this theorem is also true.

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

If BDDA=BEEC\begin{align*}\frac{BD}{DA} = \frac{BE}{EC}\end{align*}, then DE¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯AC¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯\begin{align*}\overline {DE} \| \overline{AC}\end{align*}.

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?

### Examples

Use the diagram to answers Examples 1 and 2. DB¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯FE¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯\begin{align*}\overline{DB} \| \overline{FE}\end{align*}.

#### Example 1

Name the similar triangles. Write the similarity statement.

DBCFEC\begin{align*}\triangle DBC \sim \triangle FEC\end{align*}

#### Example 2

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

DF; DB

#### Example 3

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

The midsegment splits the sides evenly. The ratio would be 8:8 or 10:10, which both reduce to 1:1.

#### Example 4

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

To solve, set up a proportion.

1015=BC12 15(BC)BC=120=8\begin{align*}\frac{10}{15} = \frac{BC}{12} \longrightarrow \ 15(BC) &= 120\\ BC &= 8\end{align*}

#### Example 5

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

If the ratios are equal, then the lines are parallel.

618=824=13\begin{align*}\frac{6}{18} = \frac{8}{24} = \frac{1}{3}\end{align*}

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

### Review

Use the diagram to answer questions 1-7. AB¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯DE¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯\begin{align*}\overline{AB} \| \overline {DE}\end{align*}.

1. Find BD\begin{align*}BD\end{align*}.
2. Find DC\begin{align*}DC\end{align*}.
3. Find DE\begin{align*}DE\end{align*}.
4. Find AC\begin{align*}AC\end{align*}.
5. What is BD:DC\begin{align*}BD:DC\end{align*}?
6. What is DC:BC\begin{align*}DC:BC\end{align*}?
7. Why BD:DCDC:BC\begin{align*}BD:DC \neq DC:BC\end{align*}?

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

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### 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.