Geometry

Module 23 — Lesson 0023

Geometry is the study of points, lines, surfaces, and solids. For aptitude tests it splits into Pure Geometry (angles, properties, theorems) and Mensuration (area, perimeter, volume).

1. Lines and Angles

Concept Definition
Parallel Lines Two lines in a plane that never intersect, no matter how far extended
Perpendicular Lines Two lines that intersect at 90°
Sum of Angles in a Triangle Interior angles always add to 180°
Supplementary Angles Two angles whose sum is 180°
Exterior Angle of a Regular Polygon Each exterior angle = 360° / n (n = number of sides)

2. Triangles: Properties and Centers

a) Types of Triangles

Type Property
Equilateral All sides equal, all angles 60°
Isosceles Two sides equal, angles opposite them equal
Right-Angled One angle is 90° — follows Pythagoras theorem

b) Pythagoras Theorem

For a right-angled triangle with base b, height h, hypotenuse c:

c2 = b2 + h2

c) Important Centers

Incenter vs Circumcenter Incenter — angle bisectors I incircle touches all sides Circumcenter — perp bisectors O circumcircle through vertices
Incenter (bisectors → incircle, ∠BIC=90°+A/2) vs Circumcenter (perp bisectors → circumcircle).

d) Thales' Theorem (Basic Proportionality)

If a line is drawn parallel to one side of a triangle intersecting the other two sides, it divides those sides in the same ratio.

If DE || BC, then AD/DB = AE/EC.

3. Quadrilaterals and Polygons

a) Properties of Specific Quadrilaterals

Shape Key Property Area Formula
Rectangle Opposite sides equal, all angles 90° L × W
Square All sides equal, all angles 90°, diagonals equal Side2 or (Diagonal2)/2
Parallelogram Opposite sides parallel Base × Height
Rhombus All sides equal, diagonals bisect at 90° (1/2) × d1 × d2
Trapezium One pair of parallel sides (a, b) (1/2) × (a + b) × Height

b) Cyclic Quadrilateral

A quadrilateral whose vertices all lie on a circle. The sum of opposite angles is 180° (supplementary).

Cyclic quadrilateral and regular hexagon Cyclic quad opposite ∠ sum 180° Regular hexagon 6 equilateral Δ → (3√3/2)s²
Cyclic quadrilateral (vertices on circle) and regular hexagon (6 equilateral triangles).

c) Regular Hexagon

6 equal sides — consists of 6 equilateral triangles. Area = [ (3√3) / 2 ] × Side2

4. Circles: Geometry and Mensuration

a) Basic Formulas

b) Sectors and Arcs

A sector is a slice of the circle defined by a central angle θ.

Area of sector: (θ / 360) × πr2

Sector, chord, tangent and direct common tangent sector θ (θ/360)πr² ⊥ bisects chord tangent ⊥ radius tangent at P Sector Chord Tangent
Sector (θ/360 of circle), chord (⊥ from center bisects), tangent (⊥ to radius), direct common tangent √(d²−(r₁−r₂)²).

c) Chords and Tangents

d) Common Tangents

For two circles with radii r1, r2 separated by distance d:

Length of direct common tangent: √[ d2 − (r1 − r2)2 ]

5. Coordinate Geometry

6. Mensuration 3D (Solids)

Key concept (recasting): when one shape is melted to form another (e.g., sphere to cone), the volume remains constant.

Solid Volume Surface Area / Notes
Cube (side a) a3 Total SA = 6a2, Vertices = 8
Cylinder (r, h) πr2h Curved SA = 2πrh
Cone (r, h) (1/3)πr2h Slant l = √(h2 + r2), Curved SA = πrl
Sphere (r) (4/3)πr3 Surface Area = 4πr2
Tetrahedron (a) a3 / (6√2) Regular triangular pyramid

Frustum of a Cone

A cone with the top sliced off parallel to the base. With bottom radius R, top radius r, slant height l:

Total SA: π(R + r)l + πR2 + πr2

Frustum, inscribed square and pathway frustum R,r,l square in circle: diag = D path w outer (L+2w)(B+2w)
Frustum (R,r,l), square diagonal = diameter, pathway outer dimensions (L+2w).

7. Advanced Applications

a) Pathways (Garden Problems)

If a path of width w is built outside a rectangle (L, B):

b) Inscribed Shapes

8. Summary of Variables

Symbol Meaning
l, b, h Length, breadth, height
a, s Side length
r, R Radius
d Diagonal or distance
θ Angle
π Pi (≈ 22/7 or 3.14)

Each exterior angle of a regular polygon with n sides is?

In any triangle, ∠BIC where I is the incenter equals?

If DE || BC in ΔABC, Thales says?

Area of a rhombus with diagonals d1, d2 is?

Area of a regular hexagon with side s is?

Area of a sector with central angle θ and radius r is?

Length of direct common tangent for two circles (r1, r2, distance d) is?

A point moving equidistant from a fixed point and a fixed line traces a?

When a solid is melted and recast into another shape, what remains constant?

Notes

Geometry :- Basics :-

Pure geometry ⇒ angles/properties ; Mensuration ⇒ area/perimeter/volume

Parallel ⇒ never meet ; Perpendicular ⇒ 90°

Triangle interior ⇒ 180° ; Supplementary ⇒ sum 180° ; Regular n-gon exterior ⇒ 360°/n

Triangles :-

a) Equilateral ⇒ all sides/60° ; Isosceles ⇒ 2 sides equal ; Right ⇒ 90° → Pythagoras

Pythagoras ⇒ c² = b² + h² (c = hypotenuse)

b) Incenter ⇒ angle bisectors → incircle ; ∠BIC = 90° + A/2

Circumcenter ⇒ perp bisectors → circumcircle

c) Thales ⇒ DE || BC → AD/DB = AE/EC

Quadrilaterals :-

Rectangle ⇒ L×W ; Square ⇒ s² or diag²/2 ; Parallelogram ⇒ base×height

Rhombus ⇒ (1/2)d1d2 ; sides equal, diags bisect 90°

Trapezium ⇒ (1/2)(a+b)×h (a,b = parallel sides)

Cyclic ⇒ vertices on circle ; opposite angles sum 180°

Hexagon ⇒ 6 equilateral triangles ; area = (3√3/2)s²

Circles :-

Circumference ⇒ 2πr ; Area ⇒ πr² ; Diameter ⇒ 2r

Sector (angle θ) ⇒ (θ/360)πr²

Chord ⇒ perp from center bisects chord

Tangent ⇒ ⊥ radius at contact ; OQ² = OP² + PQ²

Direct common tangent ⇒ √[ d² − (r1−r2)² ]

Coordinate :-

Distance ⇒ √[ (x2−x1)² + (y2−y1)² ]

Locus ⇒ path under condition ; (eg equidistant point & line → parabola)

3D Solids :-

Recasting ⇒ volume constant

Cube ⇒ a³ ; SA 6a² ; vertices 8

Cylinder ⇒ πr²h ; curved 2πrh

Cone ⇒ (1/3)πr²h ; l = √(h²+r²) ; curved πrl

Sphere ⇒ (4/3)πr³ ; SA 4πr²

Tetrahedron ⇒ a³/(6√2)

Frustum ⇒ π(R+r)l + πR² + πr²

Inscribed / Pathways :-

Square in circle ⇒ diagonal = diameter

Sphere in cube ⇒ diameter = side

Path outside rect (L,B) width w ⇒ outer (L+2w)(B+2w) ; path area = outer − inner

Variables :-

l,b,h ⇒ length/breadth/height ; a,s ⇒ side

r,R ⇒ radius ; d ⇒ diagonal/distance ; θ ⇒ angle ; π ≈ 22/7

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