Can someone help me prove these two triangles are similar?

enter image source here

1 Answer
Feb 12, 2018

As proved below

Explanation:

enter image source here

Triangle ABC - A (2,1), B (6,3) C (8,1)

Triangle ADE - A (2,1), D (4,2), E (5,1)

Using distance formula,

#vec(AB) = sqrt((6-2)^2 + (3-1)^2) = sqrt20#

#vec(AC) = sqrt((8-2)^2 + (1-1)^2) = 6#

#vec(AD) = sqrt((4-2)^2 + (2-1)^2) = sqrt5#

#vec(AE) = sqrt((5-2)^2 + (1-1)^2) = 3#

#(AB) / (AD) = sqrt20 / sqrt5 = sqrt(4*5)/sqrt5 = (2 cancelsqrt5)/sqrt5 = 2#

#(AC) / (AE) = 6/3 = 2#

#(AB) / (AD) = (AC) / (AE) = 2# and #hatA# is common in both the triangles.

Hence #Delta ABC, Delta ADE# are similar.

This can be confirmed by showing #(BC) / (DE)# also #= 2#