Similar Triangle Criteria

MCC9-12.G.SRT.2 Given two figures, use the

definition of similarity in terms of similarity
transformations to decide if they are similar;
explain using similarity transformations the
meaning of similarity for triangles as the equality
of all corresponding pairs of angles and the
proportionality of all corresponding pairs of sides.
MCC9-12.G.SRT.3 Use the properties of similarity
transformations to establish the AA criterion for
two triangles to be similar
Warm Up

2 1
3 4
6 5
7 8

The m < 1 is 45 degrees, find the

remaining angles.
 Vocabulary
Angle: Angles are created by two distinct rays that share a
common endpoint (also known as a vertex). ABC or B denote angles
with vertex B.

Adjacent Angles: Angles in the same plane that have

a common vertex and a common side, but no common interior points.

Alternate Exterior Angles : Alternate

exterior angles are pairs of angles formed when a third line (a
transversal) crosses two other lines. These angles are on opposite
sides of the transversal and are outside the other two lines. When the
two other lines are parallel, the alternate exterior angles are equal.

Alternate Interior Angles : Alternate interior

angles are pairs of angles formed when a third line (a transversal)
crosses two other lines. These angles are on opposite sides of the
transversal and are in between the other two lines. When the two
other lines are parallel, the alternate interior angles are equal.
 Vocabulary
Complementary Angles: Two
angles whose sum is 90 degrees.
Linear Pair: Adjacent, supplementary angles.
Excluding their common side, a linear pair forms a straight line.

Supplementary Angles: Two angles

whose sum is 180 degrees.

Transversal: A line that crosses two or more lines.

Vertical Angles: Two nonadjacent angles formed

by intersecting lines or segments. Also called opposite angles.
 Parallel lines cut by a
transversal

2 1
3 4
6 5
7 8
< 1 and < 2 are called SUPLEMENTARY ANGLES
They are a linear pair. ALL linear pairs are supplementary
(their measures add up to 1800 ).
Name other supplementary pairs:
 Parallel lines cut by a
transversal

2 1
3 4
6 5
7 8

< 1 and < 3 are called VERTICAL ANGLES

They are congruent m<1 = m<3

Name other vertical pairs:

 Parallel lines cut by a
transversal

2 1
3 4
6 5
7 8

< 1 and < 5 are called CORRESPONDING ANGLES

They are congruent m<1 = m<5
Corresponding angles occupy the same position on the top and
bottom parallel lines. Name other corresponding pairs:
 Parallel lines cut by a
transversal

2 1
3 4
6 5
7 8
< 4 and < 6 are called ALTERNATE INTERIOR ANGLES
They are congruent m<4 = m<6
Alternate Interior on the inside of the two parallel lines and on
opposite sides of the transversal. Name other alternate interior
angles.
 Parallel lines cut by a
transversal

2 1
3 4
6 5
7 8
< 4 and < 6 are called ALTERNATE EXTERIOR ANGLES
They are congruent m<2 = m<8
Alternate Interior on the inside of the two parallel lines and on
opposite sides of the transversal. Name other alternate exterior
angles.
TRY IT OUT

2 1
3 4
6 5
7 8

The m < 6 is 125 degrees, Find the rest

of the angles.
 TRY IT OUT

2x + 20 x + 10

What do you know about the angles? SUPPLEMENTARY

Write the equation. 2x + 20 + x + 10 = 180
Solve for x. 3x + 30 = 180
3x = 150
x = 30
 TRY IT OUT

3x - 120
2x - 60

What do you know about the angles? ALTERNATE INTERIOR

Write the equation. 3x - 120 = 2x - 60
Solve for x. x = 60
Subtract 2x from both sides
Add 120 to both sides
 Definition of Similar Triangles
Two triangles are called
similar if they both have
the same three angle
measurements.
The two triangles shown
are similar.
Similar triangles have the
same shape but POSSIBLY
different sizes.
You can think of similar
triangles as one triangle
being a magnification of
the other.
13
 Similar Triangle Notation
The two triangles shown C
are similar because they 55
have the same three
angle measures.
The symbol for similarity
45 80
is Here we write:
ABC : DEF A B

The order of the letters is E D

80 45
important: corresponding
letters should name 55
congruent angles.
F
14
 Proportions from Similar
Triangles
Suppose ABC : DEF . F
Then the sides of the triangles
are proportional, which means:

AB AC BC
D E
DE DF EF C

Notice that each ratio consists

of corresponding segments.

A B
15
 Example
Given that ABC : DEF , if F
the sides of the triangles are as
marked in the figure, find the 8 6
missing sides.
First, we
ABwrite:
AC BC
D 7 E
DE DF EF C
Then fill in the values:
AB 12 BC
12 9
7 8 6
Then:
12 21 12 A 10.5 B
AB 7 10.5 BC 6 9
16
8 2 8
 Lets stress the order of the C
letters again.ABC
When: DEF
we write
note that the 55
first letters are A and D, and
The second letters are
B and E, and The 45 80
A D .
third letters are C and F, and
A B

We can also write:

B E. E
80 45
D

55
C F .
17
butnot
orACB :
CAB
BAC BCA : DFE
FDE
:DFE
EDF F
 Proving Triangles are Similar
using Angle Angle Similarity (AA)
postulate
One way to prove that two D
triangles are similar, is to show P 40
that two pairs of angles have 110
the same measure.
ACB : PTD.
In the figure,
30
This is because the unmarked
angles are forced to have the
same measure because the C T
three angles of any triangle
180
always add up to 30
This is called the Third Angle
Theorem: If two angles of one
triangle are congruent to two
angles of another triangle,
then the third angles are also 110 40
congruent. A B
18
 When angles are congruent
When trying to show that two triangles are similar,
there are some standard ways of establishing that a
pair of angles (one from each triangle) have the
same measure:
They may be given to be congruent.
They may be vertical angles.
They may be the same angle (sometimes two
triangles share an angle).
They may be a special pair of angles (like alternate
interior angles) related to parallel lines.
They may be in the same triangle opposite congruent
sides.
There are numerous other ways of establishing a
19 congruent pair of angles.
 Example 1
P DE.
In the figure,AB
Show thatABC : EDC. A B
ABC EDC
First, note that
because these are alternate
BAC
interior DEC
angles. C
Also,
because these are alternate
interior angles too.
This is enough to show the D E
triangles are similar, but
notice the remaining pair of
20 angles are vertical.
 Example 2

Explain why the triangles

are similar and write a
similarity statement.

By the Triangle Sum Theorem, mC = 47, so C F. B E by

the Right Angle Congruence Theorem.
Therefore, ABC ~ DEF by AA ~.
 Example 3
DAC
In the figure, and EBC D
DA 12,
are right angles, EB 9,
AB.
and Find
E
BC 6.
First note that
since
DAC : EBC 12
9
since
and DAC the
EBC
triangles share
angle C.
A x B 6 C
Let
DAx denote
AC AB. x6
12 Then:
12
So, x 6 or
6 8. So, x 2.
22
EB BC 99 6
In addition to AA, triangles can also be proven similar using
the following criteria:
 Example 4

Verify that the triangles are similar.

PQR and STU

Therefore PQR ~ STU by SSS ~.

 Example 5

Verify that the triangles are similar.

DEF and HJK

D H by the Definition of Congruent Angles.

Therefore DEF ~ HJK by SAS ~.

 Example 6

Verify that TXU ~ VXW.

TXU VXW by the Vertical

Angles Theorem.

Therefore TXU ~ VXW by SAS ~.

 Lesson Quiz

1. Explain why the triangles are similar and

write a similarity statement.

2. Explain why the triangles are similar, then

find BE and CD.