Trigonometry Date: ___________

Trigonometry is a branch of mathematics that is used to find the measures of sides and the measures
of angles in triangles. Similar triangles help us calculate unknown heights or widths of objects.
Trigonometry, which is based on similar triangles, helps to find dimensions of accessible or inaccessible
objects. For example, we can find the height of a flagpole or the height of the Rockies using trigonometry.

Triangles have a certain way of being labelled.

• Each vertex is labelled with a capital letter.
• Each side is labelled with the lowercase letter of
the opposite vertex.

Similar Triangles

Congruent Triangles are identical in every way.

The expression ABC  XYZ means that ABC is congruent to XYZ .

Similar Triangles have the same shape, but are different sizes.
The expression ABC XYZ , means that ABC is similar to XYZ .

If ABC XYZ , then corresponding sides and angles are proportional.

AB BC AC
Angles < A = < ___ , <B = < ___ , < C = < ___ Sides (ratio) = =
XY YZ XZ

Conditions for Similarity

1) If the three pairs of corresponding sides are proportional, then ABC ~ XYZ
( ______ - ______ - ______ similarity or ________ )

2) If two pairs of corresponding sides are proportional and the contained angles are equal,
AB BC
( = and  B = Y ) then ABC ~ XYZ
XY YZ
( ______ - ______ - ______ similarity or ________ )

3) If two pairs of corresponding angles are equal (  B = Yand  C = Z , then ABC ~ XYZ
( ______ - ______ - ______ similarity or ________ )
Proportions
Proportions can be applied to triangles to:
1) prove similarity OR
2) find an unknown side of a similar triangle

Examples

1) Are ABC and DEF similar triangles?

In ABC , a = 16cm, b = 12 c, c = 20 cm. In DEF , d =12 cm, e = 9 cm, f = 15 cm.

Determine the ratio for each pair of corresponding sides.

a) a:d b) b:e c) c:f

Since the ratios are __________________, ABC and DEF

Given that the triangles

2) ABC and DEF are similar triangles. are similar there is no need
Use a proportion to solve for x. to prove

Steps
1) Set up a proportion
(numerator represents one triangle &
denominator represents the other)

2) Cross multiply (or half cross)

3) Solve for unknown

More Examples

In each example, the two triangles are similar. Determine the length represented by x

a) ABC DEC

b) PLQ MLN