Similar Figures and the Linear Scale Factor Similar Figures and Shapes ‘Two shapes are similar if they share the same shape but not the size. n fact their + corresponding angles are equal + corresponding sides are in the same ratio. Linear Scale Factor k The ratio between the original object and its image. The linear scale factor can be used to scale lengths of similar figures and shapes. length of Hl eneth of mage = > Downscaling: k = = Sk>1 S0 = 0.005. ‘The top surface of the concrete slab shaded in the diagram above has an area of 60 m?, ‘The area of this surface on the plan is 0.005? x 60 = 0.0015 m? = 15 cm?. Example Modified VCAA 2011 Question 4bii i Alighthouse tower is in the shape of a truncated cone. it has circular cross- sections that decrease uniformly from a radius of 35 metres at ground level to a radius of 2 metres at the walkway. The height of the lighthouse tower is 18 metres. The lighthouse tower is part of a cone, The height of this coneis 42 metres and the base radius is 35 metres. The volume of the coneis539 24 2 ° 64 RG inzm k-gs-7 (3) B ‘The volume of the smaller cone is Ww x 539 = 100.57 m?, The volume of the lighthouse tower is 539 — 100.57 = 438m? +