The altitudes of a triangle are used to form the sides of a second triangle . The altitudes of are then used to form the sides of a third triangle . Prove that is similar to .
Solutions — 2
Solution 1
For , let the altitude standing on the base have length , let the altitude standing on the base have length , and let the altitude standing on the base have length .

Step 1: Then is similar to and so using the usual notation for the sides of the triangle .
Step 2: Let have side lengths , and . Let the altitude standing on the base have length , let the altitude standing on the base have length , and let the altitude standing on the base have length . Then, similar reasoning to that of Step 1 yields . Using the result of Step 1 then yields .
Step 3: Reasoning as in the previous Step, we obtain and , and so is similar to .
Step 1: Let denote the area of . Then the altitudes of are equal to , and , using the usual notation for the sides of the triangle .
Step 2: Next let denote the area of . Then the altitudes of are equal to , and .
Step 3: From the above, , so that is similar to .
Solution 2
Step 1: Let denote the area of . Then the altitudes of are equal to , and , using the usual notation for the sides of the triangle .
Step 2: Let have side lengths , and . Let the altitude standing on the base have length , let the altitude standing on the base have length , and let the altitude standing on the base have length . Then, similar reasoning to that of Step 1 yields . Using the result of Step 1 then yields .
Step 3: Reasoning as in the previous Step, we obtain and , and so is similar to .