Draw an isosceles triangle ABC in which AB=AC=6 cm and BC=5 cm. Construct a triangle PQR similar to ∆ABC in which PQ=8 cm. Also, justify the construction.
Let ∆PQR and ∆ABC are similar triangles, then its scale factor between the corresponding sides is:
Steps of construction
1. Draw a line BC=5 cm.
2. Construct OQ the perpendicular bisector of line segment BC meeting BC at P’.
3. Taking B and C as centers draw two arcs of equal radius 6 cm intersecting each other at A.
4. Join BA and CA So, ∆ABC is the required isosceles triangle.
5. Draw any ray BX making an acute ∠CBX.
6. Locate 4 points B1,B2,B3 and B4 on BX such that BB1=B1B2=B2B3=B3B4
7. Join B3C and from B4 draw a line B4R||B3C intersecting the extended line segment BC at R.
8. Draw RP||CA meeting BA produced at P.
Then, ∆PBR is the required triangles.
By construction,
B4R││B3C
∴ BC/CR = 3/1
Now,
∴
Now,
⇒
⇒
⇒ BR/BC = 4/3
Also,
RP||CA
∴ ΔABC ~ ΔPBR
and
Hence, the new triangle is similar to the given triangle whose sides are 4/3 times of the corresponding sides of the isosceles ∆ABC.