Unit 8 Lesson 2: Proving Triangles Similar (8.2 & 8.

3 in textbook) Geometry

There are three ways to prove triangles similar:

1. AA → two pairs of corresponding angles congruent (*most common method for proofs)
2. SSS → three pairs of corresponding sides proportional
3. SAS → two pair of corresponding sides proportional and the included angles congruent

POSTULATE (AA  AA): If two angles of one triangle are congruent to two angles of a second triangle,
then the two triangles are similar. (Short form: AA  AA → ~ s )

Statement Reason
1. ∠𝐾 ≅ ∠𝐻 1. Given
∠𝑀 ≅ ∠𝐽

2.

Name two pairs of congruent angles to show that the triangles are similar by the Angle-Angle Similarity
Postulate.
1. 2.

THEOREM (SSS~): If the three sides of one triangle are proportional to the three corresponding sides of
another triangle, then the triangles are similar.

Statement Reason
1.
𝐸𝐹 𝐷𝐸
= 𝐺𝐻 =
𝐹𝐷
1. Given
𝐻𝐽 𝐽𝐺

2.
2.

3 4 5
3. In the diagram below, since = = , then DEF ~ GHJ .
6 8 10

The scale factor of GHJ to DEF is ______.

The scale factor of DEF to GHJ is ______.

THEOREM (SAS~): If two sides of one triangle are proportional to two sides of another triangle and their
included angles are congruent, then the triangles are similar.
Statement Reason

1.
XY
=
YZ
and Given
AB BC
XYZ  ABC

2.

Explain how to show that the triangles are similar.

4. 5.

Practice:

6. In the triangles below, which is not the result

of a dilation from one of the others? Explain
how you know!

7. Are the following triangles a result of a dilation? Explain!

Are the triangles below similar? Explain. If the triangles are similar, identify any missing angle and side
length measures.

8.
9.

10. Which of the three triangles, if any, are similar and why?

11. Given the diagram to the right, is ABC ~ DEC ?

Explain your answer.

Determine whether the triangles can be proved similar. If they are similar, write a similarity statement.
If they are not similar, explain why.

12. 13. 14.

Determine which two of the three given triangles are similar. Find the scale factor for the pair.

15. 16.
17. Describe the transformation that maps △ 𝐴𝐵𝐶 onto △ 𝐷𝐸𝐹.

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Proof Practice

18. Given: BS ^ TV and Ð1 @ ÐV

Prove: TSB ~  BSV

Statements Reasons

B
19. Given: Isosceles ABC with AB  BC
BE and CD are altitudes
Prove: △ 𝐵𝐸𝐶 ∼△ 𝐶𝐷𝐴
D

Statements A E C Reasons
Remember from our definition of similar triangles…If two triangles are similar, then their corresponding
sides are proportional.

Statement Reason
1. △ 𝐹𝐸𝐷 ∼△ 𝐶𝐵𝐴 1. Given

2. 2.

You should also recall from algebra that proportions could be solved by cross-multiplying:

Corollary: In a proportion, the Statement Reason

product of the means is equal to the AB AC 1. Given
1. =
product of the QR QS
extremes. 2.
2.

20. Given: AB ⊥ BE, DE ⊥ BE

< 𝐵𝐹𝐷 ≅< 𝐸𝐶𝐴
AB BC
Prove: =
DE EF

Statements Reasons
21. Given: XW  XY , HA ⊥ WY , KB ⊥ WY
Prove: △ 𝐻𝑊𝐴 ∼△ 𝐾𝑌𝐵

Statements Reasons

22. Given: 𝐵𝐶 ∥ 𝐴𝐷
Prove: KM  LB = LM  KD

Statements Reasons