Similar Triangles

Two triangles are Similar if the only difference is size (and possibly the need to turn or flip
one around).
These triangles are all similar:

(Equal angles have been marked with the same number of arcs)
Some of them have different sizes and some of them have been turned or flipped.
Similar triangles have:

all their angles equal

corresponding sides have the same ratio

Corresponding Sides
In similar triangles, the sides facing the equal angles are always in the same ratio.
For example:

Triangles R and S are similar. The equal angles are marked with the same numbers of arcs.
What are the corresponding lengths?

The lengths 7 and a are corresponding (they face the angle marked with one arc)

The lengths 8 and 6.4 are corresponding (they face the angle marked with two arcs)

The lengths 6 and b are corresponding (they face the angle marked with three arcs)

Calculating the Lengths of Corresponding Sides

It may be possible to calculate lengths we don't know yet. We need to:

Step 1: Find the ratio of corresponding sides in pairs of similar triangles.

Step 2: Use that ratio to find the unknown lengths.

Example: Find lengths a and b of Triangle S

Step 1: Find the ratio

We know all the sides in Triangle R, and

We know the side 6.4 in Triangle S
The 6.4 faces the angle marked with two arcs as does the side of length 8 in
triangle R.
So we can match 6.4 with 8, and so the ratio of sides in triangle S to
triangle Ris:
6.4 to 8
Now we know that the lengths of sides in triangle S are all 6.4/8 times the
lengths of sides in triangle R.

Step 2: Use the ratio

a faces the angle with one arc as does the side of length 7 in triangle R.
a = (6.4/8) 7 = 5.6

b faces the angle with three arcs as does the side of length 6 in triangle R.
b = (6.4/8) 6 = 4.8

Done!

Did You Know?

Similar triangles can help youestimate distances.

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