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Two right-angled triangles are given. Which single extra fact is enough to guarantee that they are similar?

Class 10Triangles (Similarity)Geometry — Similarity
  • ATheir hypotenuses are equal in length
  • BTheir areas are equal
  • COne acute angle of the first equals one acute angle of the second
  • DTheir perimeters are in the ratio 1 : 2

Step-by-Step Solution

Each triangle already has a 90° angle, so one more pair of equal angles completes the AA criterion (the third pair then matches automatically). Equal hypotenuses, equal areas or a stated perimeter ratio say nothing about the SHAPE — a long thin right triangle and a nearly isosceles one can share any of those.
Answer: C) One acute angle of the first equals one acute angle of the second

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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