Name  Class  Date 

12.1 Triangle Proportionality

Theorem
Essential Question: When a line parallel to one side of a triangle intersects the other two
Resource
sides, how does it divide those sides? Locker

Constructing Similar Triangles

Explore  
In the following activity you will see one way to construct a triangle similar to a given triangle.

A Do your work for Steps A–C in the space provided. Draw a triangle.
Label it ABC as shown.
A

B C
_
B ​  . Label it E.
Select a point on AB​

B C

C Construct an angle with vertex E that is congruent

_ to ∠B. Label the point where the
​   
side of the angle you constructed intersects AC​ as F.
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

E F

B C

‹ ›
− _
D    
Why are​  EF ​ ​   
  and BC​ parallel?

_ _ _ _
E Use a ruler to measure AE​ ​  , EB​ , AF​
​  , and FC​
​  . Then compare the
​  \\192.168.9.251\07Macdata\07Vol1Data\From Graphics\02192014\From Ramesh\Econ 2016\W
___AE ___AF
ratios ​  EB  ​ and ​  FC  ​.

Module 12 631 Lesson 1

 Reflect

1. Discussion How can you show that △AEF ∼ △ABC? Explain.

AE AF
2. What do you know about the ratios ___
AB
and ___
AC
? Explain.

3. Make a Conjecture Use your answer to Step E to make a conjecture about the line
segments produced when a line parallel to one side of a triangle intersects the other
two sides.

Explain 1 Proving the Triangle Proportionality

Theorem
As you saw in the Explore, when a line parallel to one side of a triangle intersects the other
two sides of the triangle, the lengths of the segments are proportional.

Triangle Proportionality Theorem

Theorem Hypothesis Conclusion
If a line parallel to a side A AE = _
_ AF
of a triangle intersects EB FC
the other two sides, then E F
it divides those sides
proportionally.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

B C
EF ∥ BC

Example 1 Prove the Triangle Proportionality Theorem

‹ › _
−
A Given: EF ∥ BC A

AE AF
Prove: ___
EB
= ___
FC 3 F
E 1
Step 1 Show that △AEF ∼ △ABC. 4 C
‹ › _
− 2
Because EF ∥ BC, you can conclude that ∠1 ≅ ∠2 and
B
∠3 ≅ ∠4 by the Theorem.

So, △AEF ∼ △ABC by the .

Module 12 632 Lesson 1

 Step 2 Use the fact that corresponding sides of similar triangles are proportional to
AE AF
prove that ___
EB
= ___
FC
.

AB =
_ Corresponding sides are proportional.
AE
AE + EB
_ = Segment Addition Postulate
AE
EB = a+b
1+_ c = c + c.
Use the property that ____ __
a __
b
AB
EB =
_ Subtract 1 from both sides.
AE
AE =
_ Take the reciprocal of both sides.
EB

Reflect

4. Explain how you conclude that ▵AEF ∼▵ABC without using ∠3 and ∠4.

Explain 2 Applying the Triangle Proportionality

Theorem
Example 2 Find the length of each segment.
_
A CY
_ _ AX ___ AY by the Triangle Proportionality
It is given that XY ∥ BC so ___
XB
= YC B
Theorem. 4 X

Substitute 9 for AX, 4 for XB, and 10 for AY. 9

Then solve for CY.

C Y 10 A
9=_
_ 10
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

4 CY
Take the reciprocal of both sides.
_4=_ CY
9 10
Next, multiply both sides by 10.

() ( )
9
CY 10
4 = _
10 _
10
→ 40 = CY, or 4_
_
9
4 = CY
9

B Find PN.
_ _ NQ
It is given that PQ ∥ LM, so ___
QM
= by the L M
3
P Q 2
Triangle Proportionality Theorem.
5
Substitute for NQ, for QM, and 3 for .
N
5=_
_ NP
2 3
Multiply both sides by : (_25 ) = (_3 )
NP → = NP

Module 12 633 Lesson 1

 Your Turn

Find the length of each segment.

_ _
5. DG E 6. RN 5 P
32 40 Q
8
C D
24 M N
F G 10 R

Explain 3 Proving the Converse of the Triangle

Proportionality Theorem
The converse of the Triangle Proportionality Theorem is also true.

Converse of the Triangle Proportionality Theorem

Theorem Hypothesis Conclusion

A AE AF
If a line divides two sides of =
EB FC
a triangle proportionally, ‹ › _
−
E F EF || BC
then it is parallel to the
third side.
B C

Example 3 Prove the Converse of the Triangle Proportionality Theorem

AE = _
Given: _ AF A
A EB FC
‹ › _
−
Prove: EF ∥ BC
F

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Step 1 Show that △AEF ∼ △ABC. E
C
AE = _
It is given that _ AF , and taking the reciprocal
EB FC B
of both sides shows that . Now add 1 to
AE to the left side and _
both sides by adding _ AF to the right side.
AE AF
This gives .

Adding and using the Segment Addition Postulate gives .

Since ∠A ≅ ∠A, △AEF ∼ △ABC by the Theorem.

‹ › _
−
Step 2 Use corresponding angles of similar triangles to show that EF ∥ BC.

∠AEF ≅ ∠ and are corresponding angles.

‹ › _
−
So, EF ∥ BC by the Theorem.

Module 12 634 Lesson 1

 Reflect R
_
7. Critique Reasoning
_ A student states that UV must U V
be parallel to ST. Do you agree? Why or why not?
S T

Explain 4 Applying the Converse of the Triangle

Proportionality Theorem
You can use the Converse of the Triangle Proportionality Theorem to verify that a line is
parallel to a side of a triangle.

Example 4 Verify that the line segments are parallel.

_ _
A MN and KL
K
21 M 42
J
_JM 42 = 2 JN 30 = 2
=_ _ =_ 30
MK 21 NL 15
JM JN _ _ 15
N
Since _ = _, MN || KL by the Converse of the L
MK NL
Triangle Proportionality Theorem.

_ _ A
B DE and AB (Given that AC = 36 cm, and BC = 27 cm) D
20 cm
AD = AC - DC = 36 - 20 = 16
C
BE = BC - = - = B E 15 cm

CD = _ = _
_ CE = _ =
_
DA EB

CD = _, DE
Since _
― by the
― || AB Theorem.
DA
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Reflect

8. Communicate Mathematical Ideas In △ABC, in the example, what is the value

of ___
AB
DE
? Explain how you know.

Your Turn
_ _
9. Verify that TU and RS are parallel.
R
72
T
90

V
67.5 U 54 S
Module 12 635 Lesson 1
 Elaborate
_ _
10. In △ABC, XY || BC. Use what you know about similarity A
and proportionality to identify as many different proportions X Y
as possible. B C

11. Discussion What theorems, properties, or strategies are common to the proof of
the Triangle Proportionality Theorem and the proof of Converse of the Triangle
Proportionality Theorem?

―
12. Essential Question Check-In Suppose a line parallel to side BC of
― ―
▵ABC intersects sides AB and AC at points X and Y, respectively, and ___
AX
= 1. What
XB
do you know about X and Y? Explain.

Evaluate: Homework and Practice

• Online Homework
1. Copy the triangle ABC that you drew for the Explore activity. Construct a line
_
• Hints and Help
‹ ›
− • Extra Practice
FG parallel to AB using the same method you used in the Explore activity.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

_ − ‹ › XM XN
2. ZY || MN . Write a paragraph proof to show that ___
MZ
= ___
NY
.

N X
Y

M
Z

Module 12 636 Lesson 1

 Find the length of each segment.
_ _ _
3. KL 4. XZ 5. VM
G H X U
m 8
M
6 8
J Y Z
n 30
4 K 30
18 V T
N 14
L
U V 49

Verify that the given segments are parallel.

_ _ _ _ _ _
6. AB and CD 7. MN and QR 8. WX and DE
A F
C 4 P
12 1.5 2.1
9 10 W X
E B 2.7 M N
14 D 42 3 2.5 3.5
3 Q R
D E

9. Use the Converse of the Triangle Proportionality Theorem to

identify parallel lines in the figure. 16 M 8
A B

20 15
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

N
L
16 12

C
10. On the map, 1st Street and 2nd Street are parallel. What is the distance from
City Hall to 2nd Street along Cedar Road?

Rd.
en
As p
mi
2.8
City Library
mi
Hall 2.1 2.4 mi
Cedar Rd.
1st St. 2nd St.

Module 12 637 Lesson 1

11. On the map, 5th Avenue, 6th Avenue, and 7th Avenue are parallel. What is the length
of Main Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue?

5th 6th 7th

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Main
St. 0.4 km

St.
r in g km
Sp 0.5

km
0.3

12. Multi-Step The storage unit has horizontal siding that is parallel to the base. G

a. Find LM.
11.3 ft
10.4 ft

b. Find GM. H
L D 2.6 ft
M E
J 2.2 ft
N F
K
c. Find MN to the nearest tenth of a foot.

HJ
d. Make a Conjecture Write the ratios ___ LM
MN
and __
JK
as
decimals to the nearest hundredth and compare them.
Make a conjecture about the relationship between parallel
‹ › −
− ‹ › ‹ ›
− ‹ ›
− ‹ ›
−
lines LD , ME , and NF and transversals GN and GK.

13. A corollary to the Converse of the Triangle Proportionality Theorem states that
if three or more parallel lines intersect two transversals, then they divide the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company • Image Credits:

transversals proportionally. Complete the proof of the corollary.
‹ › −
− ‹ ›−‹ › − ‹ ›
Given: Parallel lines AB ∥ CD, CD ∥ EF A B
AC BX ___BX AC
BD ___ BD
Prove: ___
CE
= ___ ,
XE XE
= ___,
DF CE
= ___
DF
C X D
E F

Statements Reasons
‹ › −
‹ › −
− ‹ › −
‹ ›
1. AB ∥ CD , CD ∥ AF 1. Given
©Stuart Walker/Alamy

‹ ›
− ‹ ›
−
2. Draw EB intersecting CD at X. 2. Two points
AC
3. ___
CE
= __
BX
XE
3.
BX BD
4. __
XE
= ___
DF
4.
AC BD
5. ___
CE
= ___
DF
5. Property of Equality

Module 12 638 Lesson 1

 14. Suppose that LM = 24. Use the Triangle Proportionality Theorem L
to find PM.
P

K 10 N 15 M

​   
15. Which of the given measures allow you to conclude that UV​
― ―
​  ? Select
∥ ST​
all that apply.
A. SR = 12, TR = 9 U V
20 16
B. SR = 16, TR = 20 S T
C. SR = 35, TR = 28
D. SR = 50, TR = 48 R

E. SR = 25, TR = 20

H.O.T.   Focus on Higher Order Thinking

_ ―
​  
16. Algebra  For what value of x is GF​  ∥ ​ HJ​? 

G
40
H
4x + 4
F E
45 J 5x + 1
17. Communicate Mathematical Ideas  John used △ABC to write a proof A
of the Centroid Theorem. He began by drawing medians AK​
― and CL​
​   
―
​  , 
―
​   
intersecting at Z. Next he drew midsegments LM​
―
​  , both
and NP​
―
​  . 
parallel to median AK​
L N
Z
Given: △ABC with medians AK​
―
​   
―
​  , and midsegments LM​
and CL​ ​   
―
and NP​
―
​    B C
M K P
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Prove: Z is located _​ 23 ​of the distance from each vertex of △ABC to

L
the midpoint of the opposite side.
Z
a. Complete each statement to justify the first part of John’s proof.
By the definition of        , MK = ​ _12 ​BK. By the definition M C
K P
of      , BK = KC. So, by       , MK = _​ 12 ​KC, or ___ ​ KC   ​= 2.
MK
Consider △LMC. LM​
​  ∥
― (and therefore LM​
― AK​
​   
― ZK​
​  ∥
―
​  ) , so ___
​ ZC ​  KC  ​ by the
  ​= ___
LZ MK
             Theorem, and ZC = 2LZ. Because

​  ZC
LC = 3LZ, ___LC
​ 2LZ
  ​= ___
3LZ
​ 23 ​, and Z is located _​ 23 ​of the distance from vertex C
  ​= _
of △ABC to the midpoint of the opposite side.

b. Explain how John can complete his proof.

Module 12 639 Lesson 1

18. Persevere in Problem Solving Given △ABC with FC = 5, you want to find BF.
First, find the value that y must have for the Triangle Proportionality Theorem to
apply. Then describe more than one way to find BF, and find BF.

y
9 B (5.5, y)
8
7
6 F (7, 6)
5
4
3
2
1 A (1, 2) E (4, 2) C (10, 2)
x
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Lesson Performance Task

Shown here is a triangular striped sail, together with some of its dimensions.
A
In the diagram, segments BJ, CI, and DH are all parallel to segment EG. Find
each of the following:
2.5 ft
1. AJ J
B 1.8 ft
2. CD 2.25 ft I
1.2 ft
C H
3. HG

4. GF D

5. the perimeter of △AEF G

3.5 ft
6. the area of △AEF 6 ft
E F
7. 
the number of sails you could make for $10,000 if the sail 6.5 ft
material costs $30 per square yard

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Module 12 640 Lesson 1