8.
1: Similar Polygons
1. Using Similarity Statements
a. Similarity Transformations – a dilation or composition of rigid motions and
dilations that maps one of the figures onto the other
b. Similar figures have the same shape but not necessarily the same size
c. Corresponding Parts of Similar Polygons
i. A similarity transformation preserves angle measure, making
corresponding angles congruent
ii. A similarity transformation also enlarges or reduces side lengths
by a scale factor k, so corresponding side lengths are proportional
iii. In the diagram below, ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 is similar to ∆𝐷𝐸𝐹; this can be written
as ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶~∆𝐷𝐸𝐹
d. Example Problems
2. Finding Corresponding Lengths in Similar Polygons
a. If two polygons are similar, then the ratio of any two corresponding
lengths in the polygons are equal to the scale factor of the similar
polygons
i. Corresponding lengths include side lengths, heights, and
midsegments
b. Example Problems
3. Finding Perimeters and Areas of Similar Polygons
a. Theorem 8.1: Perimeters of Similar Polygons
i. If two polygons are similar,
then the ratio of their
perimeters is equal to the
ratios of their
corresponding side lengths
𝑃𝑄+𝑄𝑅+𝑅𝑆+𝑆𝑃 𝑃𝑄 𝑄𝑅 𝑅𝑆 𝑆𝑃
ii. If 𝐾𝐿𝑀𝑁~𝑃𝑄𝑅𝑆, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 = = 𝐿𝑀 = 𝑀𝑁 = 𝑁𝐾
𝐾𝐿+𝐿𝑀+𝑀𝑁+𝑁𝐾 𝐾𝐿
b. Example Problems
c. Theorem 8.2: Areas of Similar Polygons
i. If two polygons are similar, then
the ratio of their areas is equal
to the squares of the ratios of
their corresponding side
lengths
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑃𝑄𝑅𝑆 𝑃𝑄 2 𝑄𝑅 2 𝑅𝑆 2 𝑆𝑃 2
ii. If 𝐾𝐿𝑀𝑁~𝑃𝑄𝑅𝑆, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 = (𝐾𝐿 ) + (𝐿𝑀) + (𝑀𝑁) + (𝑁𝐾)
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝐾𝐿𝑀𝑁
d. Examples
4. Deciding Whether Polygons Are Similar
a. Example Problems
8.2: Proving Similarity by AA
1. Using the Angle-Angle (AA) Similarity Theorem
a. Theorem 8.3: Angle-Angle (AA) Similarity Theorem
i. If two angles of one triangle are
congruent to two angles of another
triangle, then the two triangles are
similar
ii. 𝐼𝑓 ∠𝐴 ≅ ∠𝐷 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∠𝐵 ≅
∠𝐸, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶~∆𝐷𝐸𝐹
b. Examples
8.3: Proving Similarity by SSS and SAS
1. Using the Side-Side-Side Similarity Theorem
a. Theorem 8.4: Side-Side-Side (SSS) Similarity Theorem
i. If the corresponding
side lengths of two
triangles are
proportional, then
the triangles are
similar
𝐴𝐵 𝐵𝐶 𝐶𝐴
ii. 𝐼𝑓 𝑅𝑆 = 𝑆𝑇 = 𝑇𝑅 , 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶~∆𝑅𝑆𝑇
b. Examples
2. Using the Side-Angle-Side (SAS) Similarity Theorem
a. Theorem 8.5: Side-Angle-Side (SAS) Similarity Theorem
i. If an angle of one
triangle is congruent to
an angle of a second
triangle and the lengths
of the sides including
these angles are proportional, then the triangles are similar
𝑍𝑋 𝑋𝑌
ii. 𝐼𝑓 ∠𝑋 ≅ ∠𝑀 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑃𝑀 = 𝑀𝑁 , 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 ∆𝑋𝑌𝑍~∆𝑀𝑁𝑃
b. Examples
c. Concept Summary: Triangle Similarity Theorems
8.4: Proportionality Theorems
1. Using the Triangle Proportionality Theorem
a. Theorem 8.6: Triangle Proportionality Theorem
i. If a line parallel to one side of a
triangle intersects the other two
sides, then it divides the two sides
proportionally
ii. 𝐼𝑓 𝑇𝑈 ̅̅̅̅ , 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑅𝑇 = 𝑅𝑈
̅̅̅̅ ∥ 𝑄𝑆
𝑇𝑄 𝑈𝑆
b. Theorem 8.7: Converse of the Triangle Proportionality Theorem
i. If a line divides two sides of a triangle
proportionally, then it is parallel to
the third side
𝑅𝑇 𝑅𝑈
ii. 𝐼𝑓 = , 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑇𝑈̅̅̅̅ ∥ 𝑄𝑆
̅̅̅̅
𝑇𝑄 𝑈𝑆
c. Examples
2. Using Other Proportionality Theorems
a. Theorem 8.8: Three Parallel Lines Theorem
i. If three parallel lines intersect two
transversals, then they divide the
transversals proportionally
𝑈𝑊 𝑉𝑋
ii. 𝑊𝑌 = 𝑋𝑍
b. Examples
c. Theorem 8.9: Triangle Angle Bisector Theorem
i. If a ray bisects an angle of a triangle,
then it divides the opposite side into
segments whose lengths are
proportional to the lengths of the
other two sides
𝐴𝐷 𝐶𝐴
ii. 𝐷𝐵 = 𝐶𝐵
d. Examples: