Similarity

Front

What does it mean for two figures to be similar?

Back

Two figures are similar if they have the same shape but not necessarily the same size. This means their corresponding angles are equal and their corresponding sides are in proportion.

Front

What is a scale factor?

Back

A scale factor is a number that scales, or multiplies, some quantity. In the context of similar figures, it is the ratio of the lengths of corresponding sides.

Front

If the scale factor is less than one, what happens to the size of the figure?

Back

If the scale factor is less than one, the new figure will be a reduction of the original figure.

Front

What are corresponding sides in similar figures?

Back

Corresponding sides are the sides of similar figures that are in the same relative position. For example, the side of one triangle that corresponds to a side of another triangle.

Front

How do you find the missing side of similar figures?

Back

To find the missing side, set up a proportion using the lengths of the corresponding sides of the similar figures.

Front

What is the relationship between corresponding angles in similar figures?

Back

In similar figures, corresponding angles are equal.

Front

If triangle A is similar to triangle B and the scale factor is 3, what can you say about the sides of triangle A compared to triangle B?

Back

The sides of triangle A are one-third the length of the corresponding sides of triangle B.

Front

What is the formula to calculate the scale factor between two similar figures?

Back

The scale factor can be calculated by dividing the length of a side of one figure by the length of the corresponding side of the other figure.

Front

If two triangles have sides of lengths 4, 6, and 8, and 2, 3, and 4, are they similar?

Back

Yes, they are similar because the ratios of the corresponding sides (4:2, 6:3, 8:4) are all equal (2:1).

Front

What is the significance of the scale factor being equal to 1?

Back

If the scale factor is equal to 1, the two figures are congruent, meaning they are the same size and shape.