8.

5 Proving Triangles are

Similar
Geometry
Mrs. Spitz
Spring 2005

Objectives:
Use similarity theorems to
prove that two triangles are
similar
Use similar triangles to solve
real-life problems such as
finding the height of a climbing
wall.
Assignment: pp.492-493 #1-26

Using Similarity Theorems

In this lesson, you will study 2
alternate ways of proving that
two triangles are similar: SideSide-Side Similarity Theorem
and the Side-Angle-Side
Similarity Theorem. The first
theorem is proved in Example 1
and you are asked to prove the
second in Exercise 31.

Side Side Side(SSS)

Similarity Theorem
If the corresponding sides of
two triangles are proportional,
then the triangles are similar.
P

AB
PQ

BC
QR

CA
RP

THEN ABC ~ PQR

Side Angle Side Similarity

Thm.
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.
M

If X M
and

ZX
PM

THEN XYZ ~ MNP

XY
M
N

Ex. 1: Proof of Theorem 8.2

Given:
RS
LM

ST

Prove
=

TR

RST ~ LMN

M
NL
N
Locate P on RS so that PS = LM. Draw PQ so that PQ
RT. Then RST ~ PSQ, by the AA Similarity Postulate, and
RS
LM

ST
M
N

TR
NL

Because PS = LM, you can substitute

in the given proportion and find that
SQ = MN and QP = NL. By the SSS
Congruence Theorem, it follows that
PSQ LMN Finally, use the definition
of congruent triangles and the AA
Similarity Postulate to conclude that
RST ~ LMN.

Ex. 2: Using the SSS Similarity

Thm.
Which of the three triangles
are similar?
E
12

4
D

14

J
10

6
H

To decide which, if any, of the triangles are similar,

you need to consider the ratios of the lengths of
corresponding sides.
Ratios of Side Lengths of ABC and DEF.
AB
DE

6
4

CA

FD

12
8

BC

EF

9
6

Because all of the ratios are equal,

ABC ~ DEF.

3
2

Ratios of Side Lengths of ABC ~

GHJ
AB
GH

6
6

=1

CA
JG

12
14

BC

HJ

9
10

Because the ratios are not equal, ABC

and GHJ are not similar.
Since ABC is similar to DEF and ABC
is not similar to GHJ, DEF is not similar
to GHJ.

Ex. 3: Using the SAS Similarity

Thm.
Use the given lengths to prove
that RST ~ PSQ.
S

4
P

Given: SP=4, PR = 12,

SQ = 5, and QT = 15;

5
Q

12

Prove: RST ~ PSQ

Use the SAS Similarity

15

S
SP + PR 4 +
=
=
R
124
S
S
P
P

1
6
4

Theorem. Begin by
finding the ratios of the
lengths of the
corresponding sides.
= 4

S
SQ +
=
T
QTSQ
SQ

5+
155

2
0
5

= 4

So, the side lengths SR and ST are

proportional to the corresponding side
lengths of PSQ. Because S is the
included angle in both triangles, use the
SAS Similarity Theorem to conclude that
RST ~ PSQ.

Using Similar Triangles in Real

Life
Ex. 6 Finding Distance indirectly.
To measure the width of a river,
you use a surveying technique, as
shown in the diagram.

63

12
9

Solution
63

By the AA Similarity
Postulate, PQR ~
STR.
RQ PQ
RT

12
9

RQ
12

ST
63
9

Write the
proportion.

Substitute.

RQ = 12 7 Multiply each side

by 12.
RQ = 84

Solve for TS.

So the river is 84 feet wide.