Directorate: Curriculum FET

SUBJECT and GRADE Mathematics Grade 12

TERM 1 Week 5
TOPIC Euclidean Geometry - Similarity Theorem
AIMS OF LESSON Equiangular triangles are similar
If the corresponding sides of two triangles are in the same proportion, then the triangles are similar
RESOURCES Paper based resources Digital resources
Mind the Gap; Your textbook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZt4wXBo1PA
INTRODUCTION
Let’s go back to the previous grades and review congruency for triangles.
CONGRUENCY (≡): Two triangles is congruent if they have the same shape and size. Thus the two triangles are identical, the corresponding angles are
the same and the corresponding sides are equal.
Two triangles are congruent if they have:
1. 3 sides the same length: (S; S; S)
2. 2 sides and an included angle: (S; A; S)
3. 2 angles and a side equal: (A; A; S)
4. A right angle, hypotenuse and a side equal: (R; H; S)

In ∆ABC and ∆ ADC :

1. ̂ C = DA
BA ̂ C given

2. BĈA = DĈA given

3. AC is common
∴ ∆ABC ≡ ∆ ADC (A; A; S)
̂= D
Since they are congruent, we can say now that: B ̂; AB = AD and BC = DC
CONCEPTS AND SKILLS

SIMILARITY (|||): Polygons are similar if they have the same shape. If two polygons are similar, the one is an
enlargement of the other.
Two polygons are similar if and only if:
All pairs of corresponding angles are equal AND
all pairs of corresponding sides are in the same proportion.
Both of these conditions have to be met for two polygons to be similar.

For Triangles, any one of these two conditions is sufficient to guarantee similarity.
Hence in any two triangles if:
All pairs of corresponding angles are equal, then the two triangles are similar,
OR
If all pairs of corresponding sides are in the same proportion, then the two triangles
are similar.

If one of the conditions is true for two triangles, then the other condition is
automatically also true.

NOTATION
∆𝑋𝑌𝑍 ||| ∆ 𝑀𝑁𝑃 means ‘triangle 𝑋𝑌𝑍 is similar to triangle 𝑀𝑁𝑃’. The order in which the letters are written is very important, as it indicates which angles are
equal.
Hence 𝑋̂ = 𝑀̂ , 𝑌̂ = 𝑁
̂ and 𝑍̂ = 𝑃̂ .
The order also indicates which ratios of sides are equal: ∆XYZ ||| ∆ MNP
𝑋𝑌 𝑌𝑍 𝑋𝑍 𝑋𝑌 𝑀𝑁 𝑋𝑌 𝑀𝑁 𝑌𝑍 𝑁𝑃
= = or = or = or =
𝑀𝑁 𝑁𝑃 𝑀𝑃 𝑌𝑍 𝑁𝑃 𝑋𝑍 𝑀𝑃 𝑋𝑍 𝑀𝑃
THEOREM 2: TRIANGLE SIMILARITY THEOREM
If two triangles are equiangular, then their corresponding sides are in the same proportion and hence the triangles are similar.

Given: ̂= 𝐃
∆𝐀𝐁𝐂 and ∆𝐃𝐄𝐅 with 𝐀 ̂, 𝐁
̂ = 𝐄̂ and 𝐂̂ = 𝐅̂
𝐀𝐁 𝐀𝐂 𝐁𝐂
Conclusion: = = and hence ∆𝐀𝐁𝐂 ||| ∆ 𝐃𝐄𝐅 . Reason: ∠∠∠
𝐃𝐄 𝐃𝐅 𝐄𝐅
NOTE:
If two triangles have 2 corresponding angles equal, then the third angle in each triangle will equal each other
(sum angles of a triangle = 180°) and the triangles are therefore similar and their sides will be in proportion.
The shortened reason you can use is (third angle)

If two angles are the same, then the 3rd angle of both triangles is
180° – (40° + 80°) (sum angles in ∆) = 60°
Example 1:

Diameter AME of circle with centre M bisects FA ̂B

MD is perpendicular to the chord AB.
ED produced meets the circle at C, and CB is joined.

a) Prove ∆AEF ||| ∆AMD (5)

𝐴𝐹
b) Hence, find the numerical value of (5)
AD
c) Prove ∆ CDB ||| ∆ADE (4)
d) Prove AD2 = CD. DE (3)
[17]

Solution:

AE EF AF
a) F̂ = 90° (∠ in semi-circle) b)
AM
= MD
= AD (∣∣∣ ∆s)
̂
𝐷1 = 90° (given MD ⊥ AB)
∴ F̂ = D ̂1 AM = ME (radii)
In ∆AEF and ∆AMD ∴ AE = 2AM
F̂ = D̂1 (proved)
2AM AF
̂1 = A
A ̂2 (AM bisects FÂ B) ∴ AM = AD
̂1 = M
∴ E ̂1 (third ∠ of ∆)
AF
∴ ∆AEF ∣∣∣ ∆AMD (∠∠∠) AD
=2

Highlight the triangles

you working with
 CD DB
c) In ∆CDB and ∆ADE
d) = (∣∣∣ ∆s)
AD DE
Ĉ = 𝐴̂2 (∠s in same seg)
̂ ̂
B = E2 (∠s in same seg) ∴ CD. DE = AD. DB
̂4 = D
D ̂1 + D
̂2 (vert opp. ∠ s = ) But AD = DB (MD ⊥ AB, M is centre)
∴ ∆CDB ||| ∆ADE (∠ ∠ ∠) ∴ CD. DE = AD.AD
∴ AD2 = CD. DE

CAN YOU:

1) In the sketch below, AB ∥ DE and AC ∥ FE . 2) In the sketch below, SR is a tangent to circle PST at S.

Prove that Prove that

(a) ∆BCA ∣∣∣ ∆DFE (a) ∆PRS ∣∣∣ ∆SRT
(b) AB. EF = AC. ED (b) RS 2 = PR. RT
(c) ∆PQR ∣∣∣ ∆PTS

RT RS2
(d) =
PT 𝑃𝑄 . 𝑃𝑆
Using sides to prove that triangles are similar
CONVERSE OF THEOREM 2.
If the corresponding sides of two triangles are in the same
proportion, then the triangles are equiangular and hence similar.

Given: ∆𝐀𝐁𝐂 and ∆𝐃𝐄𝐅 with

𝐀𝐁 𝐀𝐂 𝐁𝐂
= =
𝐃𝐄 𝐃𝐅 𝐄𝐅

̂= 𝐃
Conclusion: 𝐀 ̂, 𝐁
̂ = 𝐄̂ , 𝐂̂ = 𝐅̂ and hence ∆𝐀𝐁𝐂 ||| ∆ 𝐃𝐄𝐅 . Reason: sides of ∆s in prop.

Example 2:

In the sketch alongside, AP = 16cm, PB = 14cm

AQ = 20cm, QC= 4cm and BC = 27cm.
Prove that :
(a) ∆APQ ||| ∆ ACB
(b) PBCQ is a cyclic quadrilateral.
Solution:
AP 16cm 2
a) = =
AC 24cm 3
PQ 18cm 2
= =
CB 27cm 3
AQ 20cm 2
= =
AB 30cm 3
(b) 𝑃̂1 = 𝐶̂ (∣∣∣ ∆s)
AP PQ 𝐴𝑄
∴ = = ∴ PBCQ is a cyclic quad. ( ext ∠ of quad = int opp∠ )
AC CB AB

∴ ∆APQ ||| ∆ ACB (sides of ∆s in prop.)

 CAN YOU:
In the sketch alongside, KL= 20m, KN = 10m
MN = 4m, KM = 8m and LM= 21m.

Prove that :
(a) ∆KMN ||| ∆ LKN
(b) KN is a tangent to circle LMK at K.

Identifying Triangles:
We are sometimes required to prove the equality of ratios and/or products, where the question doesn’t state which triangles to prove similar.
In such cases we identify the triangles first.
AB BC
Suppose, for example, you have to prove that = CD . There are 2 possible ways of identifying triangles in order to prove the ratios equal:
AC

1) Top triangle, bottom triangle 2) Left triangle, Right triangle

Are the left sides (AB and AD) sides of one

Are the top sides (AB and BC) sides of one triangle
triangle

And the bottom sides (AD and CD) sides of

another triangle
The right sides (BC and CD) sides of another triangle
If each of these pairs are sides of a triangle in the sketch, then you can proceed
If each of these pairs are sides of a triangle in the sketch, then you can
to try proving these triangles similar
proceed to try proving these triangles similar.
Example 3:
In the sketch alongside, AP is a tangent to the circle at P. PN ∥ SR
Prove that :
PS ST
(a) =
QR RT
PQ SR
(b) =
PT ST
(c) PM . ST = RS . MT
(d) AP2 = AR . AS

Solution: b)
a) ∆𝐏𝐒𝐓 and ∆𝐐𝐑𝐓 are both The top sides don’t give a
triangles in the sketch, hence we triangle in the sketch
will attempt to prove that ∆𝐏𝐒𝐓
and ∆𝐐𝐑𝐓 are similar.
∆𝐏𝐐𝐓 and ∆𝐑𝐒𝐓 are both triangles
in the sketch, hence we will attempt
to prove them similar.
In ∆PST and ∆QRT:
𝑃̂2 = 𝑄̂1 (∠s in same segment)
In ∆PQT and ∆RST:
𝑆̂2 = 𝑅̂1 (∠s in same segment)
𝑃̂3 + 𝑃̂4 = 𝑆̂ (∠s in same segment)
𝑇̂1 = 𝑇̂3 𝑟𝑑
( 3 ∠ of ∆)
Pay attention to the 𝑄̂2 = 𝑅̂2 (∠s in same segment)
∴ ∆PST ||| ∆ QRT (∠∠∠) order of letters
𝑇̂4 = 𝑇̂2 ( 3𝑟𝑑 ∠ of ∆)
PS ST Pay attention to the
∴ = (∣∣∣ ∆s ) ∴ ∆PQT ||| ∆ SRT (∠∠∠) order of letters
QR RT
PQ SR
∴ = (∣∣∣ ∆s )
PT ST
(c) (d) Rewrite the square as a product
𝐀𝐏 𝟐 = 𝐀𝐑. 𝐀𝐒
∴ 𝐀𝐏 . 𝐀𝐏 = 𝐀𝐑 . 𝐀𝐒

Prove that ∆𝐌𝐏𝐓 and ∆𝐑𝐒𝐓 are similar.

Prove that ∆𝐀𝐏𝐒 and ∆𝐀𝐏𝐑 are similar.

In ∆MPT and ∆RST:

𝑃̂3 = 𝑅̂2 (alt ∠s ; PN ∥ SR) In ∆APS and ∆APR:

̂1 = 𝑆̂3 𝑃̂1 = 𝑅̂2 (tan chord thm)

𝑀 (alt ∠s ; PN ∥ SR)
𝐴̂ = 𝐴̂ (common)
𝑇̂4 = 𝑇̂2 ( 3𝑟𝑑 ∠ of ∆)
𝑆̂1 = 𝑃̂1 + 𝑃̂2 ( 3𝑟𝑑 ∠ of ∆)
∴ ∆PMT ||| ∆ RST (∠∠∠)
PM MT
∴ ∆PAS ||| ∆ RAP (∠∠∠) Pay attention to the
∴ = (∣∣∣ ∆s ) PA AS order of letters
RS ST
∴ = (∣∣∣ ∆s )
RA AP
∴ PM . ST = RS. MT
∴ 𝐴𝑃2 = AR. AS
CAN YOU:
In the sketch alongside, prove that
AB AP
(a) =
ED EP
(b) AE . CD = AC . BD
Proof of Theorem 2.
If two triangles are equiangular, then their corresponding sides are in the same proportion and hence the triangles are similar.
Given: ̂= 𝐃
∆𝐀𝐁𝐂 and ∆𝐃𝐄𝐅 with 𝐀 ̂, 𝐁
̂ = 𝐄̂ and 𝐂̂ = 𝐅̂
𝐀𝐁 𝐀𝐂 𝐁𝐂
Required to prove : = = and hence ∆𝐀𝐁𝐂 ||| ∆ 𝐃𝐄𝐅
𝐃𝐄 𝐃𝐅 𝐄𝐅
Proof:
Construction: Mark off P on AB and Q on AC, such that AP = DE and AQ = DF. Draw PQ.
In ∆APQ and ∆ DEF :
1. ̂= D
A ̂ (given)
2. AP = DE (construction)
3. AQ = DF (construction)
∴ ∆APQ ≡ ∆ DEF (S; ∠; S)
̂Q = E
∴ AP ̂ ( ≡ ∆s)
̂= B
And E ̂ (given)
̂Q = B
∴ AP ̂
∴ PQ ∥ BC (corresp ∠s =)
AB AC
∴ = (line ∥ side of ∆ )
AP AQ

But AP = DE and AQ = DF
AB AC
∴ =
DE DF
AB BC
Simarlarly, by marking of P on BA and Q on BC, such that BP = ED and BQ = EF, it can be shown that ∴ =
DE EF
𝐀𝐁 𝐀𝐂 𝐁𝐂
∴ = =
𝐃𝐄 𝐃𝐅 𝐄𝐅
ACTIVITIES/ Mind Action Classroom Via Afrika
Clever
Series Mathematics Mathematics
ASSESSMENT
Ex: 11.3 & 11.4 Ex: 5 & 6 Ex: 11.3 Ex:4
Pg: 288 & 293 Pg: 249 & 256 Pg: 295 Pg: 242

CONSOLIDATION If two triangles are equiangular, then their corresponding sides are in the same proportion and hence the triangles are
similar.

Given: ̂= 𝐃
∆𝐀𝐁𝐂 and ∆𝐃𝐄𝐅 with 𝐀 ̂, 𝐁
̂ = 𝐄̂ , 𝐂̂ = 𝐅̂
𝐀𝐁 𝐀𝐂 𝐁𝐂
Then: = = and ∆𝐀𝐁𝐂 ||| ∆ 𝐃𝐄𝐅 .
𝐃𝐄 𝐃𝐅 𝐄𝐅
CONVERSE OF
THEOREM 2.
If the corresponding sides of
two triangles are in the same
proportion, then the triangles
are equiangular and hence
similar.

Given: ∆𝐀𝐁𝐂 and ∆𝐃𝐄𝐅 with

𝐀𝐁 𝐀𝐂 𝐁𝐂
= =
𝐃𝐄 𝐃𝐅 𝐄𝐅

Then: ̂= 𝐃
𝐀 ̂, 𝐁
̂ = 𝐄̂ , 𝐂̂ = 𝐅̂ and ∆𝐀𝐁𝐂 ||| ∆ 𝐃𝐄𝐅 .