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In the following figure, AB, CD and EF are perpendicular to the straight line BDF. If AB = x and; CD = z unit and EF = y unit, prove that: 1/x + 1/y = 1/z

Selina Solutions Concise Class 10 Maths Chapter 15 ex. 15(E) - 3

Solution:

In \[\Delta \text{ }FDC\text{ }and\text{ }\Delta \text{ }FBA,\]

\[\angle FDC\text{ }=\angle FBA\text{ }\left[ As\text{ }DC\text{ }||\text{ }AB \right]\]

\[\angle DFC\text{ }=\angle BFA\] [common angle]

Hence, \[\vartriangle FDC\text{ }\sim\text{ }\vartriangle FBA\text{ }by\text{ }AA\]criterion for similarity.

So, we have

\[DC/AB\text{ }=\text{ }DF/BF\]

\[z/x\text{ }=\text{ }DF/BF\text{ }\ldots .\text{ }\left( 1 \right)\]

In \[\Delta \text{ }BDC\text{ }and\text{ }\Delta \text{ }BFE,\]

\[\angle BDC\text{ }=\angle BFE\text{ }\left[ As\text{ }DC\text{ }||\text{ }FE \right]\]

\[\angle DBC\text{ }=\angle FBE\][Common angle]

Hence, \[\vartriangle BDC\text{ }\sim\text{ }\vartriangle BFE\text{ }by\text{ }AA\]criterion for similarity.

So, we have

\[BD/BF\text{ }=\text{ }z/y\text{ }\ldots ..\text{ }\left( 2 \right)\]

Now, adding (1) and (2), we get

\[BD/BF\text{ }+\text{ }DF/BF\text{ }=\text{ }z/y\text{ }+\text{ }z/x\]

\[1\text{ }=\text{ }z/y\text{ }+\text{ }z/x\]

Thus,

\[1/z\text{ }=\text{ }1/x\text{ }+\text{ }1/y\]

– Hence Proved