Respuesta :
Given: Right △ABC as shown where CD is an altitude of the triangle. We prove that [tex]a^2 + b^2 = c^2[/tex]
Because △ABC and △CBD both have a right angle, and the same angle B is in both triangles, the triangles must be similar by AA.
Likewise, △ABC and △ACD both have a right angle, and the same angle A is in both triangles, so they also must be similar by AA.
The proportions [tex] \frac{c}{a} [/tex] and [tex] \frac{a}{f} [/tex] are true because they are ratios of corresponding parts of similar triangles.
The two proportions can be rewritten as [tex]a^2 = cf[/tex] and [tex]b^2 = ce[/tex].
Adding [tex]b^2[/tex] to both sides of first equation, [tex] a^2 = cf[/tex], results in the equation [tex]a^2 + b^2 = cf + b^2[/tex].
Because [tex]b^2[/tex] and ce are equal, ce can be substituted into the right side of the equation for [tex]b^2[/tex], resulting in the equation [tex]a^2 + b^2 = cf + ce[/tex].
Applying the converse of the distributive property results in the equation [tex]a^2 + b^2 = c(f + e)[/tex].
The last sentence of the proof is
Because f + e = c, [tex]a^2 + b^2 = c^2[/tex].
Because △ABC and △CBD both have a right angle, and the same angle B is in both triangles, the triangles must be similar by AA.
Likewise, △ABC and △ACD both have a right angle, and the same angle A is in both triangles, so they also must be similar by AA.
The proportions [tex] \frac{c}{a} [/tex] and [tex] \frac{a}{f} [/tex] are true because they are ratios of corresponding parts of similar triangles.
The two proportions can be rewritten as [tex]a^2 = cf[/tex] and [tex]b^2 = ce[/tex].
Adding [tex]b^2[/tex] to both sides of first equation, [tex] a^2 = cf[/tex], results in the equation [tex]a^2 + b^2 = cf + b^2[/tex].
Because [tex]b^2[/tex] and ce are equal, ce can be substituted into the right side of the equation for [tex]b^2[/tex], resulting in the equation [tex]a^2 + b^2 = cf + ce[/tex].
Applying the converse of the distributive property results in the equation [tex]a^2 + b^2 = c(f + e)[/tex].
The last sentence of the proof is
Because f + e = c, [tex]a^2 + b^2 = c^2[/tex].