NCERT Exemplar Solutions
Class 10 - Mathematics - CHAPTER 10: Construction - Exercise 10.3
Question 3

Question. 3

Draw a triangle \(ABC\) in which \(BC=6\,\text{cm},\; CA=5\,\text{cm}\) and \(AB=4\,\text{cm}.\) Construct a triangle similar to it with scale factor \(\dfrac{5}{3}\).

Answer:

  1. Construct \(\triangle ABC\) with the given side lengths.
  2. From vertex \(A\), draw a ray \(AX\) making an acute angle with \(AB\).
  3. On \(AX\), mark five equal points \(A_1,\ldots,A_5\).
  4. Join \(A_5\) to \(B\) and \(C\). Through \(A_3\) draw \(A_3B'\,\parallel\,A_5B\) and \(A_3C'\,\parallel\,A_5C\).
  5. Then \(\triangle AB'C'\sim\triangle ABC\) with scale factor \(\dfrac{5}{3}\) (enlargement).

Detailed Answer with Explanation:

Step 1: We are asked to enlarge triangle \(ABC\) in the ratio \(5:3\). That means each side of the new triangle must be \(\dfrac{5}{3}\) times the side of the original triangle.

Step 2: To do this, we use the method of dividing a line into equal parts with the help of a ray and parallel lines.

Step 3: On the ray \(AX\), we marked 5 equal parts because the numerator of the ratio is 5.

Step 4: We join the 5th point (\(A_5\)) with \(B\) and \(C\). This gives the full size corresponding to '5' in the ratio.

Step 5: Since the ratio is \(\tfrac{5}{3}\), we take the 3rd division point (\(A_3\)) to represent the smaller triangle. By drawing parallels from \(A_3\), we ensure that the sides are reduced proportionally.

Step 6: The triangle \(AB'C'\) formed in this way is similar to the original triangle \(ABC\), and the sides are enlarged in the ratio \(\tfrac{5}{3}\).

Reason: This works because of the Basic Proportionality Theorem. Drawing parallels creates smaller triangles that are similar to the bigger triangle, keeping the ratio of corresponding sides exactly as required.

NCERT Exemplar Solutions Class 10 – Mathematics – CHAPTER 10: Construction – Exercise 10.3 | Detailed Answers