Appearance/Description

Similar figures are the same _______ but usually different _______.
Definition
Similar means:
1) All corresponding angles are congruent
AND
2) All corresponding sides are proportional
*congruent figures are also similar and have a scale factor of 1
Similarity Transformation:
Dilations cause figures to be similar. The preimage is dilated by a scale factor. The result is an
image that is similar to the preimage. The corresponding sides are proportional because you multiplied
them by the same scale factor, which changes the lengths but keeps the ratio equal.
*any rigid transformation that creates congruent figures- including translations,
rotations, and reflections- also makes similar figures with a scale factor of 1.

Proving Similarity of Triangles

To prove triangles are similar, I need evidence that:
1) (AA)- 2 pairs of corresponding angles are congruent.
Evidence can be
-given
-implied by vertical angles theorem
-implied by reflexive property
-implied by parallel lines with corresponding angles
-implied by parallel lines with alternate interior angles

2) (SSS)- 3 pairs of corresponding sides are proportional

Evidence can be
-given

-calculated by making 3 ratios comparing the lengths of corresponding sides

and reducing the ratios
to verify that they are equal
3) (SAS)- 2 pairs of corresponding sides are proportional and 1 pair of included angles is congruent
Evidence of proportional sides can be
-given

-calculated by making 2 ratios comparing the lengths of corresponding sides

and reducing the ratios to verify that they are equal
Evidence of an included pair of congruent angles can be
-given
-implied by vertical angles theorem
-implied by reflexive property
-implied by parallel lines with corresponding angles
-implied by parallel lines with alternate interior angles