SIMILARITY

Geometry
DEFINITION

Two geometrical objects are called similar

if one is congruent to the result of
a uniform scaling of the other.

enlarging/shrinking
Examples
 One can be obtained by the other by
uniformly “stretching”

X Y
Examples
 Both have the same shape
Examples
 One has the same shape as the mirror
image of the other
Examples
 All circles are similar to each other

 All squares are similar to each other

 All parabolas are similar to each other

Examples
 Two triangles are similar iff they have the
same three angles, the so-called “AAA”
condition
SIMILAR POLYGONS

Polygons for which

all corresponding angles are congruent
and all corresponding sides are proportional
Example

90°

90°
Example
Problem: Find the value of x, y and the
measure of angle P.
Example
Solution: (for x)

4=x
6 9
6x = 36
x=6
Example
Solution: (for y)

4=7
6 y
4y = 42
y = 10.5
Example
To find angle P, note that angle P and angle
S are corresponding angles.
Example
By definition of similar polygons,
angle P ≅ angle S 86°.

Final Answer:
x=6
y = 10.5
angle P = 86°
SIMILAR TRIANGLES

If ∆ABC is similar to ∆DEF,

then this relation can be denoted as
∆ABC ~ ∆DEF
Example
For two triangles to be similar, it is sufficient
for them to have at least two angles that
are similar.

If this is true, then the third angle will also

match, since the three angles of the
triangle must add up to 180°.

∆ = 180° = angle 1 + angle 2 + angle 3

SPECIAL SIMILARITY
RULES
 Angle-Angle (AA) Similarity

 Side-Side-Side (SSS) Similarity

 Side-Angle-Side (SAS) Similarity

Angle-Angle Similarity

If two angles of one triangle are congruent

to two angles of another triangle,
then the triangles are similar.
Example
Problem: Prove ∆ABE is similar to ∆CDE.
Example
Solution:

Angle A and angle C are congruent.

Angle AEB and angle CED are congruent

because vertical angles are congruent.

∆ABE ~ ∆CDE by AA similarity.

Example
Side-Side-Side Similarity

If all pairs of corresponding sides

of two triangles are proportional,
then they are similar.
Side-Angle-Side
Similarity

If one angle of a triangle is congruent

to one angle of another triangle
and the sides that include those
angles are proportional,
then the two triangles are similar.
Example
Problem: Are the triangles shown in the
figure similar?
Example
Solution:

UV = 9 = 3
KL 12 4
Example
Solution:

VW = 15 = 3
LM 20 4
Example
The sides include angle V and angle L are
proportional.

Angle V and angle L are proportional.

Angle V and angle L are congruent.

∆UVS ~ ∆KLM by SAS.

Example
PARALLEL LINES &
TRIANGLES

A segment parallel to one side of a triangle

in the triangle can create similar triangles.
Example
Problem: Find PT and PR.
Example
Solution:

4=x
7 12
7x = 48
x = 6.85
Example
Solution:

PT = 6.85 6.85

PR = 12 + 6.85
= 18.85
Example
Problem:

If a 6-foot man casts a 3-foot shadow at

the same time that a tree casts an 8-foot
shadow, what is the height of the tree?
Example

=?
Example

6 ft

8 ft 3 ft
Example
Solution:

H=8
6 3
H3 = 48
H = 16