Similarity B

A
Similar shapes are always
in proportion to each
other. There is no
distortion between them.

A B C D
Conditions for similarity

Two shapes are similar only when:

•Corresponding sides are in proportion and
•Corresponding angles are equal

All regular polygons

are similar
Conditions for similarity

Two shapes are similar only when:

•Corresponding sides are in proportion and
•Corresponding angles are equal

All rectangles are not similar to one

another since only condition 2 is true.
 If two objects are similar then one is an enlargement of the other

The rectangles below are similar:

Find the scale factor of enlargement that maps A to B

8 cm
Not to scale!
5 cm A 16 cm

Scale factor = x2
Note that B to A
10 cm B
would be x ½
 If two objects are similar then one is an enlargement of the other

The rectangles below are similar:

Find the scale factor of enlargement that maps A to B

8 cm
Not to scale!
5 cm A 12 cm

Scale factor = x1½

Note that B to A
7½ cm B
would be x 2/3
 If we are told that two objects are similar and we can find the
scale factor of enlargement then we can calculate the value of an
unknown side.
13½ cm
The 3 rectangles are similar. Find the
unknown sides

Not to scale! x cm

3 cm
y cm C

A B 24 cm
8 cm

Comparing corresponding sides in A and B: 24/8 = 3 so x = 3 x 3 = 9 cm

Comparing corresponding sides in A and C: 13½ /3 = 4½ so y = 4 ½ x 8 = 36 cm

 If we are told that two objects are similar and we can find the
scale factor of enlargement then we can calculate the value of an
unknown side.
y cm
The 3 rectangles are similar. Find the
unknown sides

Not to scale! 7.14 cm

2.1 cm
26.88
cm C

A B x cm
5.6 cm

Comparing corresponding sides in A and B: 7.14/2.1 = 3.4 so x = 3.4 x 5.6 = 19.04 cm

Comparing corresponding sides in A and C: 26.88/5.6 = 4.8 so y = 4.8 x 2.1 = 10.08 cm

 Similar Triangles
Similar triangles are important in mathematics and their
application can be used to solve a wide variety of problems.

The two conditions for similarity between shapes as

we have seen earlier are:
•Corresponding sides are in proportion and
•Corresponding angles are equal

Triangles are the exception to this rule.

only the second condition is needed

Two triangles are similar if their

•Corresponding angles are equal
These two triangles are similar since
they are equiangular.

65o

70o 45o 70o 45o

50o

50o 55o
75o
These two triangles are similar since
they are equiangular.

If 2 triangles have 2 angles the

same then they must be equiangular = 180 – 125 = 55
 Finding Unknown sides (1)

b 20 cm c
6 cm

18 cm 12 cm
Since the triangles are equiangular they are similar.
So comparing corresponding sides.

b 18 c 12
= =
6 12 20 18

6x 18 20x 12
b= = 9 cm c = = 13.3 cm
12 18
 24 cm y
x 6 cm

10 cm 8 cm

Comparing corresponding sides

x 10
= y 8
6 8 =
24 10
6x 10 24 x 8
x = = 7.5 cm y = = 19.2 cm
8 10
 Determining similarity

A B
Triangles ABC and DEC are
C similar. Why?
Angle ACB = angle ECD (Vertically Opposite)
Angle ABC = angle DEC (Alt angles)

E D Angle BAC = angle EDC (Alt angles)

Since ABC is similar to DEC we know that corresponding
sides are in proportion

AB→DE BC→EC AC→DC

The order of the lettering is important in order to show which

pairs of sides correspond.
 If BC is parallel to DE, explain why
A triangles ABC and ADE are similar
Angle BAC = angle DAE (common to
both triangles)
B C Angle ABC = angle ADE (corresponding
angles between parallels)

D E Angle ACB = angle AED (corresponding

angles between parallels)
A line drawn parallel to any side of a triangle produces 2 similar triangles.

A A

B B

D E D E
C C
Triangles EBC and EAD are similar Triangles DBC and DAE are similar
In the diagram below BE is parallel to CD and all
measurements are as shown.
(a) Calculate the length CD
(b) Calculate the perimeter of the Trapezium EBCD

A A

4.5 m 6m
7.5 cm 10 m
B E
4.8 m
4m
3 cm

C D 8 cm
8 cm C D
CD 10 AC 10 So perimeter
(a ) = (b ) =
4.8 6 4.5 6
= 3 + 8 + 4 + 4.8
4.8x 10 4.5x 10
CD = = 8 cm AC = = 7.5 cm = 19.8 cm
6 6
 In the diagram below BE is parallel to CD and all
measurements are as shown. Alternative
approach to the
(a) Calculate the length CD same problem
(b) Calculate the perimeter of the Trapezium EBCD

A A

4.5 m 6m
7.5 cm 10 m
B E
4.8 m
4m
3 cm

C D 8 cm
8 cm C D
SF = 10/6 = 1.666.. So CD = 1.666… x 4.8 = 8 cm

AC = 1.666… x 4.5 = 7.5 So BC = 3 cm

Perimeter = 3 + 8 + 4 + 4.8 = 19.8 cm

The two triangles below are similar: Find the distance y.
C

B
20 cm
y
A
5 cm E 45 cm D

y 5
=
20 50
20x 5
y = = 2 cm
5
The two triangles below are similar: Find the distance y.
C
Alternate
approach to
the same
problem B
20 cm
y
A
5 cm E 45 cm D

Scale Factor = 50/5 = 10 So y = 20/10 = 2 cm