TOPIC 5 : SIMILAR

POLYGONS

1
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this topic, students should be able to:
• Use the properties of planar and solid geometric shapes
in solving common applications.
• Analyze properties of polygons and circles.
• Apply suitable transformations of figures in the
coordinate plane using properties of similarity and
congruency.
• Construct geometric proofs in verifying conjectures about
plane figures.
• Communicate mathematical ideas both in written and in
oral form.

2
Two geometric figures are similar (denoted by “~”) if they
have exactly the same shape.
Two figures are congruent ( ) if they are similar (~) and all
the corresponding parts have equal measures (=).
We can say that two congruent polygons are also similar
polygons.
Two polygons are similar iff two conditions are satisfied:
1. All pairs of corresponding angles are congruent.
2. All pairs of corresponding sides are proportional.

3
 5.1 :
SIMILAR TRIANGLES
Methods for proving similar triangles:
1. AAA
2. AA
3. CSSTP
4. CASTC
5. SAS~
6. SSS~
Note: SAS~ and SSS~ are differ than SAS and SSS.

4
Theorem 5.1.1:
The lengths of the corresponding altitudes of similar
triangles have the same ratio as the lengths of any pair
of corresponding sides.

Lemma 5.1.1:
If a line segment divides two sides of a triangle
proportionally, then this line segment is parallel to the
third side of the triangle.

5
5.2 :
PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM, ANGLE
-BISECTOR THEOREM AND CEVA’S
THEOREM
Theorem 5.2.1:
The altitude drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle
separates the right triangle into two right triangles that
are similar to each other and to the original right triangle.

6
Definition:
The nonzero number b is the geometric mean of a and c if
a b or c b .
 
b c b a
Theorem 5.2.2:
The length of the altitude to the hypotenuse of a right
triangle is the geometric mean of the lengths for the
segments of the hypotenuse.

Lemma 5.2.1:
The length of each leg of a right triangle is the geometric
mean of the length of the hypotenuse and the length of the
segment of the hypotenuse adjacent to that leg.

7
Recall!!!!
Theorem 3.2.1.3: The Pythagorean Theorem
The square of the length (c) of the hypotenuse of a right
triangle equals to the sum of squares of the length (a and b)
of the legs of the right triangle , i.e. c 2  a 2  b2

Proof:

8
9
Definition:
A Pythagorean triple is a set of three natural numbers (a, b, c)
for which c 2  a 2  b2.
Theorem 5.2.3: The Converse of the Pythagorean Theorem
If a, b and c are the lengths of the three sides of a triangle,
with c be the length of the longest side, and if c 2  a 2  b2 ,
then the triangle is a right triangle with the right angle
opposite the side of length c.
Theorem 5.2.4:
Let a, b and c represent the lengths of the three sides of a
triangle, with c be the length of the longest side.
1. If c2  a 2  b2 , then the triangle is obtuse and the ob
tuse angle lies opposite the side of length c.
2. If c2  a 2  b2 , then the triangle is acute.

10
Example 4:
Determine the type of the triangle represented if the lengths of
its sides are as follows:
a) 4,5,7
b) 6,7,8
c) 9,12,15
d) 3,4,9
Solution:

11
Theorem 5.2.5: Angle – Bisector Theorem
If a ray bisects one angle of a right
triangle, then it divides the opposite
side into segments whose lengths
are proportional to the lengths of the
two sides that form the bisected angle.
So, we can say that given ABC and angle bisector CD,
b a
where D is on AB, then  .
x y

12
Example 5:
Find the value of x.

Solution:
By the Angle-Bisector Theorem,

13
Example 6:
Consider the given figure. Let ABC be
a triangle and BD bisects ABC.
a) Suppose AB = 3, BC = 5 and AD = 2. Find DC and AC.
b) Suppose AB = 3, BC = 4 and AC = 5. Find AD and DC.
Solution:
a) Let the length of DC be denoted by x. By the Angle-
Bisector Theorem,

14
b) Let the length of DC be denoted by x. Then, the length
of AD  AC  DC  5  x. By the Angle-Bisector Theorem,

15
Theorem 5.2.6: Ceva’s Theorem
Let D be any point in the interior
of ABC. Where E, F and G be
on ABC, let BE , AF andCG
be the line segments determined by D and vertices of ABC.
Then the product of the ratios of the lengths of the segments
of each sides (taken in order from a given vertex of the
triangle) equals 1; that is,
AG BF CE
  1
GB FC EA

Note that a vertex (for example: A) is selected and the product

of the ratios of the segments is formed in a set order
(clockwise or anticlockwise).

16
Example 7:
Let RST be a triangle with interior point
D. Suppose that RG = 6, GS = 4,
SH = 4, HT = 3 and KR = 5. Find TK.

Solution:
Let the length of TK be denoted by x. By using Ceva’s
Theorem;

17