4.

3 SIMILAR FIGURES

SIMILAR
A dilation creates a similar image to the pre-image.
Similar means it has the same shape, but the size is different.
Angles remain identical, but side lengths are proportional in similar figures.

CORRESPONDING PARTS
In order to tell what sides and angles
correspond, I can look at the figures
or the order of the letters in the
statement.

Angles

Sides

PROPORTIONS
I mentioned that sides are proportional in similar figures, well proportional
means you have two fractions that equal each other.
2
6
=
5 15
In terms of figures, you can use proportions to find a missing side when
you have two similar figures. There are two ways to set up the proportions:

EXAMPLE OF FIRST WAY TO

SET UP PROPORTIONS
.

=

3
=
6 2
Y 2=3 6
2 = 18
=9
B C = 9

PROPORTIONS
(SECOND WAY)
Here is the second way you can set up proportions in similar figures:
=

=

Just make sure the numerators are from the same figure and the
denominators are from the same figure.

EXAMPLE OF SECOND WAY

TO SET UP PROPORTIONS
.

=

3
3.5
=
10.5
3 10.5 = x 3.5
31.5 = 3.5
9=
B C = 9

RATIOS
Each pair of corresponding sides have equal ratios
Follow the example below to see how to create the ratios:
ABC: ABC
Scale factor of

AB:AB
6:2 -- Divide by 2
3:1

1
3

BC:BC
5:1.6 -- Divide by 1.6
3:1

CA:CA
7:2.3 -- Divide by 2.3
3:1