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In ΔABC right-angled at A, AD ⊥ BC with D on BC. If BD = 3.6 cm and BC = 10 cm, find AB.

Class 10Triangles (Similarity)Geometry — Similarity
  • A8 cm
  • B4.8 cm
  • C6.4 cm
  • D6 cm

Step-by-Step Solution

, so cm. Each wrong option is a real length in the same figure: cm, the other leg cm, and the altitude cm. Check: .
Answer: D) 6 cm

Key idea: Pythagoras Theorem (and its converse)

**Theorem**: In a right triangle with legs a, and hypotenuse .

**Proof using similar triangles**:
In Δ right-angled at , drop perpendicular from to meeting it at .
- Δ ~ Δ: shared ∠A, both right-angled).
- Δ ~ Δ: shared ∠, both right-angled).
From Δ ~ Δ.
From Δ ~ Δ.
Add: .
So . ∎

**Converse**: if in a triangle, then the triangle is right-angled at the vertex opposite .

**Pythagorean triples**: integer triples (a, , c) with . Examples: (3, 4, 5), (5, 12, 13), (8, 15, 17), (7, 24, 25).

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