Similar Triangles

In this activity, you will experiment with similar triangles and explore the meaning of similarity ratios.

1. In the Gizmotm, under Figure type, select Triangle. Notice that it is given that ABC DEF.

a. Given that ABC DEF, name the corresponding angles and corresponding sides.
b. Vary the similarity ratio by dragging the slider. What happens as you increase the similarity ratio? How does
this affect the sizes of the triangles? Shape? Side lengths? Angle measures? What happens as you decrease
the similarity ratio?

c. How does DEF compare with ABC when the similarity ratio = 1.0? How do the figures compare when the
similarity ratio < 1? How do they compare when the similarity ratio > 1?
d. Set the similarity ratio to 2.0. (To quickly set a value, type a number in the box to the right of the slider
and press Enter.) Be sure all three vertices of both triangles are on the screen. Click on Click to measure

lengths and use the interactive ruler to measure . (For help using the ruler, click on Gizmo help, below

the Gizmo.) Use the other ruler to measure . What is the ratio of DE to AB? Also find the ratios of the
other two pairs of corresponding sides. What do you notice? How does this relate to the similarity ratio?
Click on Show side lengths to check your answers.

e. Drag the vertices of ABC to reshape both triangles. Also drag the vertices of DEF to resize and rotate it.
(The triangles remain similar as you do this.) What is always true about the similarity ratio and the ratios of
the lengths of corresponding sides?
f. Explain why it is impossible to have a pair of similar figures with a similarity ratio of zero.
2. With Triangle selected under Figure type, click on Click to measure angles and use the interactive protractor
to measure A. (For help using the protractor, click on Gizmo help, below the Gizmo.) Then turn on the other

protractor and measure the angle in DEF that corresponds with A.

a. How do the angle measures compare? Drag the vertices of the triangles to reshape and resize them. Does
this relationship always hold true?
b. Turn on Show angle measures. Drag the vertices of the triangles. Watch the angle measures as you do.
What is always true of corresponding angles in similar triangles?
Similar Quadrilaterals
In this activity, you will experiment with similar quadrilaterals and use similarity to solve problems.

1. Turn off the rulers and protractors, click off Show side lengths and Show angle measures, and, under Figure
type, select Quadrilateral.

a. Notice that it is given that ABCD EFGH. Which angle in EFGH corresponds to D in ABCD? Which side in

ABCD corresponds to in EFGH?

b. Reshape the quadrilateral ABCD by dragging the vertices. Set the similarity ratio to 0.5. Turn on the ruler

and measure the length of . What is the length of the corresponding side in EFGH? Write a proportion
that uses the similarity ratio to find the answer. Click on Show side lengths to check your answer.
c. If AB = 10, CD = 12, EF = 18, and GH = 24, are ABCD and EFGH similar? Explain why or why not. Use the
words similarity ratio in your answer.
d. If the similarity ratio of EFGH to ABCD is 0.2 and GH = 10, find CD. Create a proportion and show your work.
 e. If the similarity ratio of EFGH to ABCD is 0.2, what is the similarity ratio of ABCD to EFGH? Explain.
2. With Quadrilateral selected under Figure type, alter the similar quadrilaterals ABCD and EFGH by dragging the
vertices of the figures. Also vary the similarity ratio using the slider. Make a conjecture about how
corresponding angles in similar quadrilaterals compare. Test your conjecture using the Gizmo. Were you
correct? Explain how you verified this.