Unit

4

Proportions & Similarity






















Table of Contents

• Lesson 1: Ratios & Proportions and Similar Polygons 1
• Lesson 2: Similar Triangles 4
• Lesson 3: Parts of Similar Triangles 7
• Lesson 4: Parallel Lines & Proportional Parts 9
• Lesson 5: Geometric Mean 12
• Unit 4 - Quiz 1 15
• Unit 4 - Quiz 2 19
• Unit 4 - Quiz 1 Answers 22
• Unit 4 - Quiz 2 Answers 26

Unit 4: Proportions & Similarity

Lesson 1 – Ratios & Proportions and Similar Polygons

Objectives:
• Write ratios
• Write and solve proportions
• Solve problems using the properties of similar polygons and triangles

Ratio & Proportion
The ratio of one number to another is a comparison of the two quantities (usually in simplest form). Ratios
must be expressed in terms of the same unit of measurement! Ratios can be expressed in multiple ways:
2
2 to 3 2:3
!3

Extended ratios can be used to compare three or more quantities, such as !a : b : c (see example 3)

a c
A proportion is an equation stating that two ratios are equal. In the proportion = , !a& d are called the
!b d
extremes, and !c & b are called the means.

The product of the extremes (!ad ) and the product of the means (!bc ) are called the cross products and they are
3 9
equal e.g. = thus !3•15 = 9•5 .
!5 15

Example 1: If you work for two weeks and earn $380, how much will you earn in 15 weeks? Set up a
proportion then solve it.







Example 2 - solve each of the following:

−4 6 x + 2 x −1
= =
! 7 2y + 5 ! 4 x −2











Example 3: The measures of the three angles of a triangle are in the ratio 2:3:5. Find each angle.

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 a c
Equivalent Proportions: = is equivalent to each of the following
!b d
a b b d c d
!ad = bc = = =
!c d !a c !a b

x 3
Example 4: Use the equivalent proportions to complete each statement if = .
y 5
!3y = 5 y 5
= = =
!y !x !3

Recall: Figures that have the same shape and size are congruent figures. For congruent figures we could write a
congruency statement such as ΔABC ≅ ΔPQR . Using CPCTC, this allowed us to conclude for instance that
∠A ≅ ∠P and that AC ≅ PR .

Two polygons are similar if and only if their corresponding angles are congruent and their corresponding sides
are proportional (i.e the ratio of the lengths of corresponding sides are the same).

Similar polygons have the same shape but not necessarily the same size!

The symbol ~ is used to indicate that figures are similar.

For example, look at the quadrilaterals below. If CORN ~ PEAS , write down what we are able to conclude
with respect to sides and angles of the figures:

C O
P E




S A

N R
If two polygons are similar then the ratio of the lengths of two corresponding sides is called the scale factor of
the similarity (just like the scale factor of a dilation).

Example 5: Given ABCD ~ EFGH

a) What is the scale factor of similarity between the figures?
b) Find the measures of x, y, z .
c) What is the perimeter of the two figures and what is the ratio of perimeters of ABCD to EFGH?


A 12
B

E x
F
5
10 2.5

z

C G
3
y H
D

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Example 6: Given WXYZ ~ JKLM , find the perimeter of both figures.


W

17

X
L 15 M

24

9

K
Z Y
20

J

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Unit 4: Proportions & Similarity

Lesson 2 – Similar Triangles

Objectives:
• Identify triangles that are similar using AA, SAS, and SSS
• Solve problems using the properties of similar polygons and triangles

Two polygons are similar if and only if their corresponding angles are congruent and their corresponding sides are
proportional (i.e the ratio of the lengths of corresponding sides are the same).

Example 1: Determine whether the triangles shown are similar. If so, write the similarity statement and scale factor.

12.5
N Q


R

15
11.5
12 10


T
P 9.2 S


In order to show that two triangles are similar we could show that they conform to the above definition. There are,
however, more efficient methods to prove similarity, the first of which is:

B
A

F G

C H


Can you explain why?



As with proving triangle congruency, we can also use the same approach to prove triangle similarity (since all
triangles that are congruent are also similar – they have a scale factor of 1)

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As was the case with congruency, SSA CANNOT prove similarity – the angle must be included between the
proportional sides.

Example 2: Are the following pairs of triangles similar? If so, write a similarity statement and give a justifying
reason.

a) Similar? b) Similar?
C YES or NO G YES or NO
3 4
Similarity Statement: 6 6 Similarity Statement:
6 8 F I
H
D E
3 4 6
10
Similarity Similarity
A B justification: justification:
J

c) Similar? d) Similar?
M YES or NO H YES or NO
60°
Similarity Statement: Similarity Statement:
P

Q G I
N K
Similarity Similarity
O justification: justification:
60°

L J


e) Similar?
B E
YES or NO

60° 60°

Similarity Statement:

61°
A C 59° F

D Similarity
justification:






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Example 3: If ∆𝐴𝐷𝐵~∆𝐸𝐷𝐶 , find the measures of x and y.



B
x
C
8
3

y


A 3 E D
4




Example 4 (Application problem):
Suppose I want to estimate the height of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel & Casino. I measure my shadow at 48 cm
and I estimate the tower’s shadow to be 58 meters. If I am 1.6 meters tall, what is the estimate for the height of
the hotel? Sketch a diagram as part of your working.

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Unit 4: Proportions & Similarity

Lesson 3 – Parts of Similar Triangles

Objectives:
• Recognize and use proportional relationships of corresponding angle bisectors, altitudes and medians
of similar triangles
• Use the Triangle bisector theorem

In the previous lesson we learned that corresponding side lengths in similar triangles are proportional. This
can be extended to other segments in a triangle:

Example 1: Find the value of x

K P L



16 Y
20 24
15
x

M Z Q S

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Example 2: Find the value of x B C
x
13.5


D U
3

9 Q
A

W V

Example 3: Find the value of x




13
x




4 6

Example 4: Find the value of x


14



11
x


20

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Unit 4: Proportions & Similarity

Lesson 4 – Parallel Lines & Proportional Parts

Objectives:
• Use proportional parts within triangles and with parallel lines

When a triangle contains a line parallel to one of its sides, the two triangles formed can be proved to be similar
using the AA similarity postulate. Since the triangles are similar, their sides are proportional:

Example 1: Based on the diagram below, state whether the proportions below are true or false:

FA FB FT FB F
a) = b) =
HA TB FH FA
T
H
FH HA FA FT
c) = d) =
FT TB FH TB

FH AH FA AH
e) = f) =
AB FT FB TB A B


Example 2: Solve for the missing variables.


10 8


x
y 12



24

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 B
Example 3: Use the given lengths to determine if !AC  ED .

6 8
A

C

9 10


E D


The midsegment of a triangle is a segment with endpoints that are midpoints of two sides of the triangle. Its
characteristics are the same as those of a trapezoid midsegment…

Example 4: Find each measure.

a) EF B


AB = 15
b) EC D E

9.2 86°

c) !∠DBE
A C
F



Theorem 7.7 can be extended to include cases where 3 (or more) parallel lines are cut by two transversals:

The proportions above are not the only ones that can be written. Can you write two more?





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If the scale factor of the proportional segments is 1, they separate the transversals into congruent parts:

Example 5: Find x.



8
2x + 1


8
x2 – 7

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Unit 4: Proportions & Similarity

Lesson 5 – Geometric Mean

Objectives:
• Find the geometric mean between two numbers
• Solve problems involving parts of a right triangle and the altitude to its hypotenuse.

When the means of a proportion are the same number, that number is called the geometric mean. The
geometric mean between two positive numbers is the positive square root of their product.

𝒂 𝒙
If = then 𝒂 ∙ 𝒃 = 𝒙𝟐 and thus 𝒂 ∙ 𝒃 = 𝒙 (x is the geometric mean)
𝒙 𝒃

This lesson will involve answers that result from taking the square root in an equation. The exact form of those
answers is written as a radical. Radicals are often written in simplest form (as in the textbook) – this is not
something we will be expecting you to do – be aware, however that this will mean that your answers will differ
from those in the textbook and the need for a calculator is more than ever!!

Example 1: Find the geometric mean and simplify the answer (OPTIONAL!!):

a) 2 and 18 b) 3 and 9






As you may recall, an altitude in a triangle is a line segment from a vertex of the triangle that intersects the
opposite side at 90˚. In a right triangle, an altitude from the vertex of the right angle to the hypotenuse forms
two additional similar right triangle triangles:

Example 2: Write a similarity statement for the similar triangles in H
the given figure





R
E J

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NOTE: These theorems are simply an application of proportionality between similar triangles – if we look at the
similarity statement we can see that we are simply using corresponding sides of similar triangles to make a
proportion…

Example 3: Complete each statement.

t is the geometric mean between _______ and _______.
u
v
t
u is the geometric mean between _______ and _______.

v is the geometric mean between _______ and _______.

s r
k
Example 4: Given the figure at the right, If JR = 9 and EJ = 16, find:

H
HJ = __________


RE = __________


RH = __________
R
J
HE = __________
E





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xample 5: Find the value of x, y and z x

6




8
y z

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Name: ________________________________________

Geometry – Unit 4 Quiz 1

• SHOW ALL WORK FOR FULL CREDIT.
• Give exact answers or round to 2 decimal places.

! !
1. If = , then circle the following statements that are true.
!!! !



! !!! ! !!! !" !!!!!
= = 𝑥𝑎 + 𝑥𝑦 = 7𝑚 =
! ! ! ! ! !






!!! !"
2. Solve for x: =
! !!!"





x = __________________








3. You need to make 18 cups of trail mix for a family vacation. The recipe calls for peanuts,
chocolate chips, and raisins in the ratio of 5:1:4. How many cups of each item do you need?

peanuts = _____________


chocolate chips = _____________


raisins = ______________









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 4. Grace is 1.72 meters tall and wants to find the height of a tree in her backyard. From the tree’s
base, she walks 18.4 meters along the tree’s shadow to a position where the end of her shadow
exactly overlaps the end of the tree’s shadow. She is now 4.2 meters from the end of the
shadows. How tall is the tree?





tree’s height = _____________


4.2 18.4





5. Are the given polygons similar? If so, write a similarity statement and give the scale factor. If
not, then explain your reasoning for why they are not similar.
18

A
a. similarity 21
D
statement: 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷~_______________

12 G

18
scale factor: ___________________
C 12
If no, explain your reasoning:
L
14 H
8
K
B





b. similarity
statement: 𝐴𝐵𝐸𝐷𝐶~________________ B
6
8 E 5.6 G
L
scale factor: ___________________ A 7.2

10 8

If no, explain your reasoning: 9 J
M 6.4
D 5
C 7 K







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 6. Two similar polygons are shown below with ABCD ~ EFGH.


C 18 H

D E
15
20
12

16


G
B F
x
A

Use the diagram to calculate the information below.


Scale factor = ____________


x = ____________



perimeter of EFGH = __________










7. If 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷~𝐴𝐺𝐾𝐿, answer the following.

B 8 C
3.6
Scale factor = __________________
G x K


6
x = _____________

A y L 5 D

y = _____________





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 8. Determine if the triangles are similar. If so, write a similarity statement and provide justification.

a) Similar? b) Similar?
C E
YES or NO F
48° YES or NO
60°
12 10
E Similarity Statement: Similarity Statement:
D
C
8
14
D 70°
A ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶~_____________ ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶~______________
48°
B A
B

Similarity Similarity
justification: justification:



c) Similar? d) A Similar?
C
YES or NO YES or NO
38°
Similarity Statement: Similarity Statement:

22 16 C D

∆𝐴𝐶𝐷~______________ B ∆𝐴𝐶𝐷~_______________
B 33

11
E 8

A
Similarity Similarity
justification: justification:
16.5

D
71°
F
E




9. Calculate the length of x.





x = _________________ 10


x

15

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Name: ________________________________________

Geometry – Unit 4 Quiz 2

• SHOW ALL WORK FOR FULL CREDIT.
• Give exact answers or round to 2 decimal places.

1. If 𝐴𝐶 bisects ∠𝐵𝐴𝐷 and 𝐸𝐺 bisects ∠𝐹𝐺𝐷, calculate the length of 𝐸𝐺 and 𝐶𝐷.

A


EG = ________________
35
25

CD = _______________
14 E F
B C D
21


G

2. If ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶~∆𝐸𝐷𝐶, calculate the length of x.
A B

x 5
x+4
x = __________________
C


35
15



D E



3. Given the side lengths of ∆𝐾𝐿𝐻 where 𝐽𝐿 bisects ∠𝐻𝐿𝐾, calculate the length of 𝐽𝐾.


10 K
J

JK = ____________________ H

8

5



L

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 4. Given the diagram, calculate the values of x and y. y

2

x = _____________ 6


4 x
y = _____________



3 4





5. Use the given diagram to calculate the values of x and y.


x
x = _____________ 15


y = _____________ 12
5


9 y





6. Use the given figure to complete each proportion:


! !
a) = f
! _____


a d


!!! _____
b) = c
! !
e



_____ !
c) =
! _____





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 7. Calculate the geometric mean between 3 and 16.






8. Given the diagram, calculate the values of x and y.



x = _____________ 50
40


y = _____________ x

y





9. Given the diagram, calculate the value of x.


4


x+3
x = ___________________

x







10. Given LKTN, calculate the values of x and y.



x = _________________ y
K 8
4 L
y = ________________ x

7
9

T N

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