Triangles are similar if their corresponding sides are proportional.
By definition, two triangles are similar if all their corresponding angles are congruent and their corresponding sides are proportional. It is not necessary to check all angles and sides in order to tell if two triangles are similar. In fact, if you know only that all sides are proportional, that is enough information to know that the triangles are similar. This is called the SSS Similarity Theorem. SSS Similarity Theorem: If all three pairs of corresponding sides of two triangles are proportional, then the two triangles are similar. Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)If \(\dfrac{AB}{YZ}=\dfrac{BC}{ZX}=\frac{AC}{XY}\), then \(\Delta ABC\sim \Delta YZX\). What if you were given a pair of triangles and the side lengths for all three of their sides? How could you use this information to determine if the two triangles are similar? For Examples 1 and 2, use the following diagram: Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\)
Example \(\PageIndex{1}\) Is \(\Delta DEF\sim \Delta GHI\)? Is \(\dfrac{15}{30}=\dfrac{16}{33}=\dfrac{18}{36}\)? Solution \(\dfrac{15}{30}=\dfrac{1}{2}\), \(\dfrac{16}{33}=\dfrac{16}{33}\), and \(\dfrac{18}{36}=\dfrac{1}{2}\). \(\dfrac{1}{2}\neq \dfrac{16}{33}\), \(\Delta DEF\) is not similar to \(\Delta GHI\).
Example \(\PageIndex{2}\) Is \(\Delta ABC\sim \Delta GHI\)? Is \(\dfrac{20}{30}=\dfrac{22}{33}=\dfrac{24}{36}\)? Solution \(\dfrac{20}{30}=dfrac{2}{3}\), \(\dfrac{22}{33}=\dfrac{2}{3}\), and \(\dfrac{24}{36}=\dfrac{2}{3}\). All three ratios reduce to \(\dfrac{2}{3}\), \(\Delta ABC\sim \Delta GHI\).
Example \(\PageIndex{3}\) Determine if the following triangles are similar. If so, explain why and write the similarity statement. Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\)Solution We will need to find the ratios for the corresponding sides of the triangles and see if they are all the same. Start with the longest sides and work down to the shortest sides. \(\begin{aligned} \dfrac{BC}{FD}&=\dfrac{28}{20}=\dfrac{7}{5} \\ \dfrac{BA}{FE}&=\dfrac{21}{15}=\dfrac{7}{5} \\ \dfrac{AC}{ED}&=\dfrac{14}{10}=\dfrac{7}{5}\end{aligned}\) Since all the ratios are the same, \(\Delta ABC\sim \Delta EFD\) by the SSS Similarity Theorem.
Example \(\PageIndex{4}\) Find \(x and \(y, such that \(\Delta ABC\sim \Delta DEF\). Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\)Solution According to the similarity statement, the corresponding sides are: \(\dfrac{AB}{DE}=\dfrac{BC}{EF}=\dfrac{AC}{DF}\). Substituting in what we know, we have \(\dfrac{9}{6}=\dfrac{4x−1}{10}=\dfrac{18}{y}\). \(\begin{aligned} \frac{9}{6} &=\frac{4 x-1}{10} & \frac{9}{6} &=\frac{18}{y} \\ 9(10) &=6(4 x-1) & & 9 y=18(6) \\ 90 &=24 x-6 & & 9 y=108 \\ 96 &=24 x & & y=12 \\ x &=4 & \end{aligned}\)
Example \(\PageIndex{5}\) Determine if the following triangles are similar. If so, explain why and write the similarity statement. Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\)Solution We will need to find the ratios for the corresponding sides of the triangles and see if they are all the same. Start with the longest sides and work down to the shortest sides. \(\begin{aligned} \dfrac{AC}{ED}&=\dfrac{21}{35}=\dfrac{3}{5} \\ \dfrac{BC}{FD}&=\dfrac{15}{25}=\dfrac{3}{5} \\ \dfrac{AB}{EF}&=\dfrac{10}{20}=\dfrac{1}{2} \end{aligned}\) Since the ratios are not all the same, the triangles are not similar.
Fill in the blanks.
Use the following diagram for questions 3-5. The diagram is to scale. Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\)
Fill in the blanks in the statements below. Use the diagram to the left. Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\)
Use the diagram to the right for questions 10-15. Figure \(\PageIndex{8}\)
Find the value of the missing variable(s) that makes the two triangles similar.
To see the Review answers, open this PDF file and look for section 7.6.
Video: Congruent and Similar Triangles Activities: SSS Similarity Discussion Questions Study Aids: Polygon Similarity Study Guide Practice: SSS Similarity Real World: Crazy Quilt |