Course 3 5-5

Class Notes

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In geometry, two polygons
are similar when one is a
replica (scale model) of
the other.

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Consider Dr. Evil and Mini Me from
Mike Meyers’ hit movie Austin Powers.
Mini Me is supposed to be an exact
replica of Dr. Evil.

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The following are similar figures.

II

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The following are non-similar figures.

II

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Feefee the mother cat, lost her daughters, would you
please help her to find her daughters. Her daughters have
the similar footprint with their mother.

Feefee’s
footprint

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1.

Which of the following is similar to the

above triangle?
A B C

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 Similar triangles are triangles that have the same
shape but not necessarily the same size.
A D
E
B

F
C
ABC  DEF
When we say that triangles are similar there are several
repercussions that come from it.
A  D
AB BC AC
B  E = =
DE EF DF
C  F
Six of those statements are true as a result of the
similarity of the two triangles. However, if we need to
prove that a pair of triangles are similar how many of
those statements do we need? Because we are working
with triangles and the measure of the angles and sides
are dependent on each other. We do not need all six.
There are three special combinations that we can use
to prove similarity of triangles.
1. PPP Similarity Theorem
 3 pairs of proportional sides
2. PAP Similarity Theorem
 2 pairs of proportional sides and congruent
angles between them
3. AA Similarity Theorem
 2 pairs of congruent angles
 E
1. PPP Similarity Theorem
A  3 pairs of proportional sides

9.6
5

B 12 C
F D
4
mAB 5
  1.25
mDF 4 mAC 13
  1.25
mBC 12 mDE 10.4
  1.25
mFE 9.6
ABC  DFE
 2. PAP Similarity Theorem
 2 pairs of proportional sides and congruent
angles between them L
G

70

H I
70
7
J K
mGH 5 10.5
  0.66
mLK 7.5 mH = mK
mHI 7

mKJ 10.5
 0.66 GHI  LKJ
 The PAP Similarity Theorem does not work unless
the congruent angles fall between the proportional
sides. For example, if we have the situation that is
shown in the diagram below, we cannot state that the
triangles are similar. We do not have the information
that we need. L
G

50

H I
7 50
J K
10.5
Angles I and J do not fall in between sides GH and HI and
sides LK and KJ respectively.
 3. AA Similarity Theorem
 2 pairs of congruent angles
Q
M

70 50
N O
50 70

P R
mN = mR
mO = mP MNO  QRP
 It is possible for two triangles to be similar when
they have 2 pairs of angles given but only one of
those given pairs are congruent.
T
Y X
34
34

59
59

mT = mX
87 59 Z
S mS = mZ
U

mS = 180- (34 + 87)

mS = 180- 121 TSU  XZY
mS = 59
Note: One triangle is a scale model of the
other triangle.
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How do we know if two
triangles are similar or
proportional?

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Triangles are similar (~)
if corresponding angles
are equal and the ratios
of the lengths of
corresponding sides are
equal.

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Interior Angles of Triangles

A C

The sum of the measure

of the angles of a
triangle is 1800.
C 1800
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Determine whether the pair of triangles is similar.
Justify your answer.

Answer: Since the corresponding angles have equal

measures, the triangles are similar.
If the product of the a c
extremes equals the 
product of the means b d
then a proportion
exists. bc  ad

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  ABC and AC
ABtells us thatBC
This  XYZ are
=K =K =K
similar and proportional.
YZ XZ
XY
12 8 10
2 2 2
6 4 5
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Q: Can these triangles be similar?

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Answer—Yes, right triangles can also
be similar but use the criteria.

AB BC AC
= = =K
XY YZ XZ
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AB BC AC
= = =K
XY YZ XZ

6 8 10
= = =K
4 6 8
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 Do we have equality?
6 8 10
= = =K
4 6 8
6 8
= 1.5 but = 1.3
4 6

This tells us our triangles are not

similar. You can’t have two different
scaling factors!
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If we are given that two
triangles are similar or
proportional what can we
determine about the
triangles?

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The two triangles below are known to
be similar, determine the missing value
X.

7.5 4.5

5 x
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 7.5 4.5

5 x

54.5  7.5x
22.5  7.5x
3 x

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In the figure, the two triangles are similar.
What are c and d ?
A
5
10 P R

c 4 d
B
Q
6
C

10 c
 40  5c 8c
5 4
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In the figure, the two triangles are similar.
What are c and d ?
A
5
10 P R

c 4 d
B
Q
6
C

10 6
 30  10d 3d
5 d
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Sometimes we need to measure a distance
indirectly. A common method of indirect
measurement is the use of similar triangles.
17 6

102 h
36  h
h

17
102
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Algebra 1 Honors 4-2

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