Scribd
Upload
9 views3 pages

Understanding Similar Figures in Geometry

This document provides notes on similar figures in geometry. It defines similar figures as those with congruent corresponding angles and proportional corresponding sides. It then lists six theorems for proving triangles are similar based on angle and side criteria: AA, SAS, SSS, corresponding angles formed by secants or midlines, and proportional segments formed by parallel lines. An example problem demonstrates proving two triangles similar using SAS and finding the measure of an unknown side.

Uploaded by

Louis Guy
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
9 views3 pages

Understanding Similar Figures in Geometry

This document provides notes on similar figures in geometry. It defines similar figures as those with congruent corresponding angles and proportional corresponding sides. It then lists six theorems for proving triangles are similar based on angle and side criteria: AA, SAS, SSS, corresponding angles formed by secants or midlines, and proportional segments formed by parallel lines. An example problem demonstrates proving two triangles similar using SAS and finding the measure of an unknown side.

Uploaded by

Louis Guy
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Mathematics 334 Designed by Peter Nield Notes by Katherine Daignault

Westwood High School Grade 9 Student

Similar Figures
Symbols
∝ : similar/proportional
∴ : therefore

Definition:
1. All corresponding angles are congruent.
2. All corresponding sides are proportional.
A.K.A.: Same shape, different size.

Similar figures are created by a similarity transformation (dilation).


Checking for proportionality:

2 3
=
2 4 4 6
If equation is true, sides are proportional.

3 6

These two figures are similar because all angles are congruent and sides are proportional.

Similar Triangles Theorems


1) AA: 2 triangles with 2 pairs of congruent angles are similar.

E ∆ABC ∝ ∆DEF by AA.


B

A C D F

74
Mathematics 334 Designed by Peter Nield Notes by Katherine Daignault
Westwood High School Grade 9 Student

2) SAS: 2 triangles with 2 pairs of proportional sides and their contained angles
congruent are similar.

m AB m AC
E =
m DE m DF
B ∆ABC ∝ ∆DEF by SAS

A C D F

3) SSS: 2 triangles with 3 pairs of proportional sides are similar.

E m BC m AB m AB
= =
B m DF m DE m EF

A C D F

4) Any secant line parallel to a side of a triangle creates a new smaller triangle, similar to
the original.

B
DE // AC
∆BDE ∝ ∆ABC
D E

A C

5) Any line connecting the midpoints of 2 sides of a triangle is parallel to the third side,
creates a smaller triangle.

B
AC // DE
∴ ∆ABC ∝ ∆DBE

D E

A C

75
Mathematics 334 Designed by Peter Nield Notes by Katherine Daignault
Westwood High School Grade 9 Student

6) Parallel lines create proportional segments.

A B
AB // CD // EF
C D m AC m BD
∴ =
mCE m DF
E
F

Rule for Overlaid Figures:


Always redraw them with the same orientation (i.e. all corresponding angles in the same
location).

EX:
Prove these triangles are similar and find the measure of DE .

B 3.9
10.4 5.82 15.52
E
D

A C
13.6

B
B 3.9 5.82

E D
10.4
15.52

A C 10.4 15.52
= ∆ABC ∝ ∆BDE by SAS
13.6 3 .9 5.82
13.6 10.4
=
x 3. 9
10.4 x = 53.04
10.4
x = 5. 1
m ED = 5.1
76

You might also like