Similarity

Area & Volume Scale Factor

 MENU

LENGTH

AREA

VOLUME
 Similar shapes
• Are Enlargements of each other
• Corresponding angles are equal
• Sides are related by the same scale factor
 Similar Triangles
Triangles are similar if matching
100º angles remain the same size.
30º
50º

100º

30º
50º
 To calculate a length

5
15 4
5x 3 6 x3
Scale factor 3

15
1 12
3
18
Scale factor 1/3
 Harder example
A
3
4
D E
6

C
B

Triangle ABC is similar to triangle ADE.

DE is parallel to BC.

Calculate the length of BC

 Harder example
A
3
D E
4 9

C
B 12
9x 3
3
 …and then…
AB & DE are parallel Explain why ABC is similar to CDE

A 5 <CED = <BAC Alternate Angles

B

<EDC = <ABC Alternate Angles

3
C
<ECD = <ACB Vert Opp Angles
6

D E
?

Triangle ABC is similar to Triangle CDE

 …and then…
Calculate the length of DE AC corresponds to CE

Scale Factor = 2
A 5
B
AB corresponds to DE
DE = 2 x AB
3
C DE = 10cm

D E
?
 Summary – Similar shapes
• To calculate missing sides, we first of all need the scale factor
• We then either multiply or divide by the scale factor
• To show that 2 shapes are similar we can either show that all
of the sides are connected by the scale factor or show that
matching angles are the same
 AREA SCALE FACTOR

10cm² 2cm

5cm

ENLARGE
rectangle
Scale Factor 2 40cm² 4 cm

10 cm

AREA SCALE FACTOR = 4

 AREA SCALE FACTOR

10cm² 2cm

5cm

ENLARGE
rectangle
Scale Factor 3 90cm² 6 cm

15 cm

AREA SCALE FACTOR = 9

 AREA SCALE FACTORS
• Reflect the Length Scale Factor
Length Scale Factor Area Scale Factor

2 4 2²
3 9 3²

AREA SCALE FACTOR = LENGTH SCALE FACTOR SQUARED

SFA = SFL2
 Example Questions - AREA
Calculate the unknown areas

Q1 Q2
5c

10 cm² 40 cm²
m

12 cm² 4 cm
8 cm

Q3
15
cm

4 cm² 9 cm²

108 cm² 2 cm m
3c
 Example Questions - SIDES
Calculate the unknown lengths

Q1 Q2
3c

10 cm² 250 cm²

m

12 cm² 2 cm
10 yc
m

6 cm Q3
x

8 cm² 18 cm²

48 cm² 2 cm m
3 zc
 VOLUME SCALE FACTOR

1 cm
6 cm³ 3 cm

3 cm 2 cm 162 cm³
ENLARGE 6 cm
cuboid 9 cm
Scale Factor 3

VOLUME SCALE FACTOR = 27 = 3³

 VOLUME SCALE FACTOR

4 cm
8 cm³
8 cm
64cm³

ENLARGE
cylinder
Scale Factor 2
Volume Scale Factor = 2³
 Example Questions - VOLUME
Q2
Q1
5 cm³ 2 cm 8 cm³

3 cm
27 cm³

135 cm³ 6 cm 4.5 cm

Q3

40 cm³
5 cm³

4 cm 2 cm
 Example Questions - SIDES
Q2
Q1
5 cm³ 2 cm 6 cm³

1.5 cm 384 cm³

a
4 cm 6bcm
40 cm³
Q3

120 cm³
15 cm³

3.6 cm 1.8c cm