In $\Delta ABC$,$m\angle B = 90^{\circ}$ and $\overline{BM}$ is an altitude to the hypotenuse $\overline{AC}$. Prove that $\frac{1}{BM^2} = \frac{1}{AB^2} + \frac{1}{BC^2}$.

Vedclass pdf generator app on play store
Vedclass iOS app on app store
(N/A) In $\Delta ABC$,$m\angle B = 90^{\circ}$ and $\overline{BM} \perp \overline{AC}$.
By the area of a right-angled triangle,the area of $\Delta ABC$ can be expressed in two ways:
Area $= \frac{1}{2} \times AB \times BC$ (using legs as base and height)
Area $= \frac{1}{2} \times AC \times BM$ (using hypotenuse as base and altitude as height)
Equating the two expressions: $\frac{1}{2} \times AB \times BC = \frac{1}{2} \times AC \times BM \implies AB \times BC = AC \times BM$.
Squaring both sides: $AB^2 \times BC^2 = AC^2 \times BM^2$.
Since $\Delta ABC$ is a right-angled triangle,by the Pythagorean theorem: $AC^2 = AB^2 + BC^2$.
Substituting $AC^2$ into the equation: $AB^2 \times BC^2 = (AB^2 + BC^2) \times BM^2$.
Rearranging for $BM^2$: $BM^2 = \frac{AB^2 \times BC^2}{AB^2 + BC^2}$.
Taking the reciprocal of both sides: $\frac{1}{BM^2} = \frac{AB^2 + BC^2}{AB^2 \times BC^2}$.
Splitting the fraction: $\frac{1}{BM^2} = \frac{AB^2}{AB^2 \times BC^2} + \frac{BC^2}{AB^2 \times BC^2}$.
Simplifying: $\frac{1}{BM^2} = \frac{1}{BC^2} + \frac{1}{AB^2}$.

Explore More

Similar Questions

In $\Delta ABC$ and $\Delta PQR$,$\angle A \cong \angle P$ and $\angle B \cong \angle R$. Then,the correspondence $ABC \leftrightarrow \ldots$ is a similarity.

In $\Delta ABC$,$D$,$E$,and $F$ are the midpoints of $\overline{AB}$,$\overline{BC}$,and $\overline{CA}$ respectively. Then the correspondence $DEF \leftrightarrow \dots$ is a similarity.

The lengths of the diagonals of a rhombus are $10$ and $24$. Then,the length of each side of the rhombus is $\ldots \ldots \ldots \ldots . .$

Difficult
View Solution

In $\Delta XYZ$,$X-P-Y$,$X-Q-Z$ and $\overline{PQ} \parallel \overline{YZ}$. If $XP = 8$,$XY = 12$ and $XQ = 12$,find $QZ$.

In $\Delta ABC$,$\overline{AD}$ is a median. If $AB = 8$ and $AD = BD = 8.5$,find $AC$.

Vedclass Products

For Students

Vedclass Test Series

Mock tests in real JEE/NEET style with performance analysis. 5-day free trial.

Start Free Trial
For Teachers

Exam Paper Generator

Generate Set A/B/C/D exam papers from 7.5L+ questions in 2 minutes. 3 chapters free.

Try Free
For Institutes

Online Exam Module

Live online exams with unlimited students, 360° analytics & white-label branding.

See Demo