Similar Triangles Definition Two triangles are similar if corresponding angles are congruent and if the ratio of corresponding sides is constant. If the triangles A ABC and A DEF are similar, we can write this relation as A ABC ~A DEF. The difference between similar and congruent triangles is that similar triangles do not have to be the same size. congruence = same shape & same size ~ similarity | same shape Scanned with ComSeannerSide-Angle-Side (SAS) If If two sides ina triangle are in the same ratio to two corresponding sides of another triangle, and if the included angles in both triangles are the same, then the triangles are similar. Proof o ° GH||BC Ab _ AC DE DF Place the point G such that AG = DE. Draw GH such that GH is parallel to BC. Now A AGH ~A ABC. Show that AH = DF! Then the congruence case Side-Angle-Side yields A AGH =A DEF and the proof is done. The proofs of the other two cases are similar. Side-Side-Side (SSS) If three pairs of corresponding sides are in the same ratio then the triangles are similar. Scanned with ComSeannerCorollary of Proportionality Theorem transversal that is parallel to a side in a triangle defines a new smaller triangle that is similar to the original triangle. Proof: Show that corresponding angles in the two triangles are congruent (equal. Then show that a+b _c+d ac Draw another transversal parallel to another side and show that a+b c+d_ AB a c DB Scanned with ComSeannerProof: All you need to know in order to prove the theorem is that the area of a triangle is given by wh A=-3 where w is the width and h is the height of the triangle. Compare areas three times! 1. Make a triangle polyl =A AED and a triangle poly2 =A BED. Let polyl and poly2 denote the areas of the triangles. What is the ratio of poly and poly2? Prove your answer! 2. Make a triangle poly3 =A DEC. What is the ratio of poly3 and poly1? Prove your answer! 3. What is the ratio of poly3 and poly2? Prove your answer! aie Show that — = —! 4. Show tha’ bd Scanned with ComSeannerTriangle Proportionality Theorem A\AED compared to /\ BED (\AED compared to /\ DEC A DEC compared to (\ BED Interactive help to prove the triangle proportionality theorem. A transversal is a line that intersects two or several lines. Theorem: A transversal that is parallel to one of the sides in a triangle divides the other two sides proportionally. Scanned with ComSeannerTheorem: In a triangle A ABC an angle bisector is drawn at B. The angle bisector intersects AC at a point D. The angle bisector theorem states that: AB _ BC AD CD Proof: Draw a line parallel to AB through C. Let E be the intersection of the new line and the angle bisector. Explain why: 1 ZABD = ZCED 2. triangle A BCE is an isosceles triangle, and hence why BC = CE. 3. ZBDA = ZCDE 4.4 ABD~A CED AB _ CE 5 AD ~ GD AB _ BC AD ~ CD Scanned with ComSeannerSide-Side-Side (SSS) If three pairs of corresponding sides are in the same ratio then the triangles are similar. Angle-Angle-Angle (AA) If the angles in a triangle are congruent (equal) to the corresponding angles of another triangle then the triangles are similar. Also note that it suffices that two angles are equal (why?). Angle bisector theorem load/GeoGebral Worksheet The line through C is parallel to AB. ‘Scanned with CamSeanner