Geometric Mean Theorem

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (1 votes, average: 1.00 out of 5)
Loading...

Geometric mean (or mean proportional) appears in two popular theorems regarding right triangles.

The geometric mean theorem (or altitude theorem) states that the altitude to the hypotenuse of a right triangle forms two triangles that are similar to each other and to the original triangle. This is because they all have the same three angles as we can see in the following pictures:

Explanation of the geometric mean theorem

This means that the if we take a right triangle (ABC) sitting on its hypotenuse (long side) and then put in an altitude line that divides the triangle into two other smaller right triangles (CAD and CDB), using the geometric mean we have the following ecuation:

Ecuation of the geometric mean theorem

Drawing the right triangle for the height theorem

This is why geometric mean theorem is also known as right triangle altitude theorem (or altitude rule), because it relates the height or altitude (h) of the right triangle and the legs of two triangles similar to the main ABC, by plotting the height h over the hypotenuse, stating that in every right triangle, the height or altitude (h) relative to the hypotenuse is the geometric mean of the two projections of the legs on the hypotenuse (n and m). Let’s see the following right triangle and the formula we obtain applying the geometric mean theorem:

Height theorem formula

Right triangle

So the main application of this theorem is to calculate the height (h) of the right triangle from the segments into which the hypotenuse is divided (n and m). And if we know the hypotenuse and the height (h), the area of the right triangle can be calculated.

Leg Geometric Mean Theorem (or Leg Rule)

The leg of a right triangle is the geometric mean between the hypotenuse and the projection of the leg on the hypotenuse, that is to say, each leg of the triangle is the mean proportional between the hypotenuse and the part of the hypotenuse directly below the leg:

Explanation of the Leg Rule

Drawing of the right triangle for the leg theorem

In every right triangle, a leg (a or b) is the geometric mean between the hypotenuse (c) and the projection of that leg on it (n or m).

Leg theorem formula

We can see an application of the leg geometric mean theorem or leg rule when we need to find the height of a right triangle given only the legs of the triangle.

How to find the Altitude of a Right Triangle given the Legs?

Drawing of the right triangle for the leg theorem

Applying the leg rule to the altitude formula that we have in the geometric mean theorem or altitude rule, we can obtain the altitude of the right triangle knowing its three sides:

Formula of the height by the theorem of the height from the sides

Then, apply the formulas of the leg rule that relate the projections of the legs to the sides:

Calculation of the projections of the legs on the hypotenuse from the sides

Plug the values into the altitude formula and we obtain:

Calculating the height of the right triangle from its sides

Exercise

Example of the application of the height theorem to calculate its height

Find the altitude of this right triangle.

We only know the two line segments into which the altitude (h) divides the hypotenuse (c). These segments are n = 3 cm and m = 12 cm.

Given the segments of the right triangle we apply the geometric mean theorem or altitude rule and we get the altitude (h):

Calculation of the altitude of a triangle by the geometric mean theorem

The altitude of the right triangle is h = 6 cm. The hypotenuse is the sum of the segments n and m, so we obtain that c = n+m = 3+12 = 15 cm.

Finally we can find the area of the right triangle because we know the length of its hypotenuse and its height:

Calculation of the area of a right triangle by the altitude theorem

Download this calculator to get the results of the formulas on this page. Choose the initial data and enter it in the upper left box. For results, press ENTER.

Triangle-total.rar         or   Triangle-total.exe      

Note. Courtesy of the author: José María Pareja Marcano. Chemist. Seville, Spain.

Relationship between Legs and Hypotenuse

Pythagorean Theorem

Right triangle

The Pythagorean Theorem, also known as Pythagoras’s theorem, is a fundamental relation in Euclidean geometry among the three sides of a right triangle (2 legs and hypotenuse). This theorem can be written as the following equation:

Pythagorean theorem formula

AUTHOR: Bernat Requena Serra

YEAR: 2020


IF YOU LIKED IT, SHARE IT!

10 Responses

  1. DFrancis says:

    in the section “How to find the Altitude of a Right Triangle given the Legs? ”
    your say h=ab/c (which is what you want to arrive at) when (I think) you meant h=square root(nm) (which is the altitude rule)
    It makes it confusing (imho) to introduce the formula before it’s time…

  2. Ted Mama says:

    How do geometric means relate to righ tangle triangle similarity, in simple terms please.

    • Joseph says:

      Three similar right triangles are formed.
      Establishing reasons for similarity, and solving, a squared element appears that leads to the geometric mean

  3. Joe Mamma says:

    what if i only have the numbers for variables a and b, how would i find the altitude and base of the triangle

    • Joseph says:

      Using the Pythagorean theorem, find the base c, which is the hypotenuse.
      Now look at this page:
      How to find the Altitude of a Right Triangle given the Legs?

  4. Pragyanshu says:

    Thank you for this nice work. Is there any other altitude theorem for triangle (not specifically Right angled triangle)?

    • Joseph says:

      The altitude theorem is specific to the right triangle.
      For other types of triangles, the height is related through trigonometric formulas, area, etc.

  5. Charles Albert McComas says:

    Your presentations are beautifully done. Thank you. Could you show the proof of the generalized Pythagoras Theorem: csq =asq +bsq-2bp ?

    • Joseph says:

      See the Pythagorean Theorem page from Mathematicalway. There is the proof of the generalized theorem you are looking for.
      It is through the law of cosines (also in Mathematicalway)

  6. Vimal Kumar Verma says:

    Very nice

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *