Similar Triangles

Front

What are similar triangles?

Back

Triangles that have the same shape but may differ in size. Their corresponding angles are equal, and their corresponding sides are in proportion.

Front

What is the scale factor in similar triangles?

Back

The ratio of the lengths of corresponding sides of two similar triangles.

Front

How do you find the length of a side in similar triangles?

Back

Use the proportion of corresponding sides. If triangle A is similar to triangle B, then A's side length divided by B's side length equals the scale factor.

Front

If two triangles are similar, what can be said about their angles?

Back

All corresponding angles are equal.

Front

What is the relationship between the lengths of the sides of similar triangles?

Back

The lengths of corresponding sides are proportional.

Front

How can you use a map scale to find distances?

Back

Convert the map distance to actual distance using the scale ratio.

Front

If a statue is 42.9 ft tall and casts a shadow of 253.1 ft, how do you find the shadow of a 6.2 ft tall man?

Back

Set up a proportion: (height of statue)/(length of statue's shadow) = (height of man)/(length of man's shadow). Solve for the length of the man's shadow.

Front

What is the formula for finding the height of an object using similar triangles?

Back

Height = (length of shadow) * (height of object being compared) / (length of shadow of object being compared).

Front

If Oakdale and Woodridge are 54 km apart, how far apart are they on a map with a scale of 3 cm:18 km?

Back

Use the scale to set up a proportion: 3 cm/18 km = x cm/54 km. Solve for x to find the distance on the map.

Front

What is the significance of the shadow length in similar triangles?

Back

The length of the shadow can be used to find the height of an object using the properties of similar triangles.