Similar Triangles

Worksheet 1 : 3 ways to Prove Similar Triangles

Two Triangles can be similar by :

AAA All corresponding angles equal

RRR Corresponding sides are in the same ratio

RAR 2 Corresponding sides in the same ratio and INCLUDED angle equal.

IMP : Sides of Similar Triangles are never equal in size ( cannot use ‘common side’)

Are the following triangles similar or not ? If yes, give reasons for your answers.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)
Worksheet 2 : Writing Proofs
1. BEC and AED are two straight lines and AB is parallel to CD. Show that  ABE is similar
to  DEC. D

E C

Ex 2. Show that  ADE and  ABC are similar.

A

3 cm 4 cm

D E

6 cm 8 cm

B C

3. In  PQR, A is the midpoint of PQ and B is the midpoint of PR. Q

a) What is the scale factor of enlargement from APB to PQR?
b) Show that  PQR is similar to  PAB
c) Hence show that QR is parallel to AB
d) If P = 70° and PBA=50°, find PQR A
e) If AB = 6 cm, find QR.

P B R

4. In  ABC, X is a point on AB and Y is a point on AC such that XY is parallel to BC.

a) Show that  AXY and  ABC are similar
b) If AB is twice as long as XB, and AB = 36 cm, find AX.
c) If XY = 27 cm, how long is BC? A

X Y
-

B C
Worksheet 3 : Using Ratios of Sides
1. (a) Explain why ’s PQR and STR are similar.
(b) Calculate PQ.

2. A, B, C and D are four points on the circumference of a

circle. The lines AC and BD interest at E.

(i) Prove that triangles ABE and DCE are similar.

(ii) If BE = 6 cm, DE = 8 cm, AE = 3 cm, find the

length of AC.

May 2014 Pp IIB

3. The figure shows a triangle XAB. The point Y lies on AX and Z lies on BX.
The line YZ is parallel to AB.

(i) Show that triangle XAB is similar to triangle XYZ.

(ii) When XZ = 30 cm, BZ = 15 cm and YZ = 24 cm, work out

the length of AB.

Sept 2015 Pp IIB

4. ABC is a triangle with line DE drawn parallel to BC.

AD = 5 cm, BD = 14 cm and DE = 10 cm.

(i) Prove that triangles ADE and ABC are

similar.

(ii) Find the length of BC.

September 2014 Pp I
5. (a) JKLM is a trapezium. Explain why ’s JKM and KLM are similar.
(b) Find the length of JK.

P
6.  PQR is a right angled triangle and PM is perpendicular to QR.
a) Prove that  PRQ is similar to  MRP
b) If QR = 12 cm and PR = 6.5 cm, find MR.

Q M R
Answers:
Worksheet 1:
(a) Yes By RAR (d) No, sides not in corresponding position
(b) Yes By RRR (e) Yes By AAA
(c) Yes By RAR

Worksheet 2:
1. To Prove:  ABE is similar to  DEC 2. To Prove:  ADE is similar to  ABC

Proof: AEB=CED (vert. opp s) Proof: DAE=BAC (common )

ABE=ECD (alt. s) ADE=ABC (corr. s)
BAE=EDC (alt. s) AED=ACB (corr. s)
Conc: s𝐴𝐵𝐸
𝐷𝐶𝐸
are similar by AAA Conc: s𝐴𝐷𝐸
𝐴𝐵𝐶
are similar by AAA

3. a) s.f. = 2 4. a) To Prove:  AXY is similar to  ABC

b) To Prove:  PQR is similar to  PAB Proof:XAY=BAC (common )
AXY=ABC (corr. s)
Proof: QPR=APB (common )
AYX=ACB (corr. s)
AP is half PQ (given midpoint)
Conc: s𝐴𝑋𝑌 are similar by AAA
PB is half PR (given midpoint) 𝐴𝐵𝐶

Conc: s𝑃𝑄𝑅
𝑃𝐴𝐵
are similar by RAR
c) By similar s ABP = PRQ, b) AX = 10 cm
 QR is parallel to BP by corr. s
d) 60 c) BC = 54 cm

e) QR = 12 cm

Worksheet 3:
1. a) To Prove:  PQR is similar to  STR 2. i) To Prove:  ABE is similar to  DCE
Proof: PRQ=SRT (vert. opp. s) Proof: AEB=DEC (vert. opp. s)
PQR=RST (alt. s) BAE=EDC (s in same seg.)
RPQ=RTS (alt. s) ABE=ECD (s in same seg.)
Conc: s𝑃𝑄𝑅
𝑇𝑆𝑅
are similar by AAA Conc: s𝐴𝐵𝐸
𝐷𝐶𝐸
are similar by AAA
b) PQ =10.5 cm ii) AC = 16 + 3 = 19 cm

3. i) To Prove:  XAB is similar to  XYZ 4. i) To Prove:  ADE is similar to  ABC

Proof: AXB=YXZ (common ) Proof: DAE=BAC (common )
XAB=XYZ (corr. s) ADE=ABC (corr. s)
XBA=XZY (corr. s) AED=ACB (corr. s)
Conc: s𝑋𝐴𝐵
𝑋𝑌𝑍
are similar by AAA Conc: s𝐴𝐷𝐸
𝐴𝐵𝐶
are similar by AAA
ii) AB = 36 cm ii) BC = 38 cm

5. a) To Prove:  JKM is similar to  KLM 6. i) To Prove:  PRQ is similar to  MRP

Proof: JMK=KLM = 40 (given) Proof: PRQ=PRM (common )
JKM=KML (alt. s) QPR=PMR = 90 (given)
MJK=MKL (remaining s in s) PQR=MPR (remaining s in s)
Conc: s𝐾𝑀𝐿
𝐽𝐾𝑀
are similar by AAA Conc: 𝑃𝑅𝑄
s𝑀𝑅𝑃 are similar by AAA
ii) JK = 4.9 cm ii) MR = 3.52 cm