Solve each proportion. b = y5y5 = p9p9 = m = 4. b = 10y = 8 p = 3 m = 52 Warm Up
Pre-Algebra 7.6 Similar Figures
Learn to determine whether figures are similar, to use scale factors, and to find missing dimensions in similar figures.
similar Vocabulary
The heights of letters in newspapers and on billboards are measured using points and picas. There are 12 points in 1 pica and 6 picas in one inch. A letter 36 inches tall on a billboard would be 216 picas, or 2592 points. The first letter in this paragraph is 12 points. Points and Picas
Similar figures have the same shape, but not necessarily the same size Congruent figures have the same size and shape. Similar figures have the same shape, but not necessarily the same size. The A’s in the table are similar. The have the same shape, but they are not the same size. The ratio formed by the corresponding sides is the scale factor. Similar Figures
A picture 10 in. tall and 14 in. wide is to be scaled to 1.5 in. tall to be displayed on a Web page. How wide should the picture be on the Web page for the two pictures to be similar? To find the scale factor, divide the known measurement of the scaled picture by the corresponding measurement of the original picture = Then multiply the width of the original picture by the scale factor = 2.1 The picture should be 2.1 in. wide. Example: Using Scale Factors to Find Missing Dimensions
A painting 40 in. tall and 56 in. wide is to be scaled to 10 in. tall to be displayed on a poster. How wide should the painting be on the poster for the two pictures to be similar? To find the scale factor, divide the known measurement of the scaled painting by the corresponding measurement of the original painting = Then multiply the width of the original painting by the scale factor = 14 The painting should be 14 in. wide. Try This
A T-shirt design includes an isosceles triangle with side lengths 4.5 in, 4.5 in., and 6 in. An advertisement shows an enlarged version of the triangle with two sides that are each 3 ft. long. What is the length of the third side of the triangle in the advertisement? Set up a proportion. 6 in. x ft 4.5 in. 3 ft = 4.5 in. x ft = 3 ft 6 in. Find the cross products. 4.5 in. x ft = 3 ft 6 in. in. ft is on both sides Example: Using Equivalent Ratios to Find Missing Dimensions
4.5x = x = 18 x = = Cancel the units. Multiply Solve for x. The third side of the triangle is 4 ft long. Example Continued
Set up a proportion. 24 ft x in. 18 ft 4 in. = 18 ft x in. = 24 ft 4 in. Find the cross products. 18 ft x in. = 24 ft 4 in. in ft is on both sides A flag in the shape of an isosceles triangle with side lengths 18 ft, 18 ft, and 24 ft is hanging on a pole outside a campground. A camp t-shirt shows a smaller version of the triangle with two sides that are each 4 in. long. What is the length of the third side of the triangle on the t-shirt? Try This
18x = x = 96 x = Cancel the units. Multiply Solve for x. The third side of the triangle is about 5.3 in. long. Try This Continued
The following are matching, or corresponding: A and X AB and XY BC and YZ AC and XZ A CB Z Y X C and Z B and Y Remember
Which rectangles are similar? Since the three figures are all rectangles, all the angles are right angles. So the corresponding angles are congruent. Example: Identifying Similar Figures
50 48 The ratios are equal. Rectangle J is similar to rectangle K. The notation J ~ K shows similarity. The ratios are not equal. Rectangle J is not similar to rectangle L. 20 = 20 length of rectangle J length of rectangle K width of rectangle J width of rectangle K ? = length of rectangle J length of rectangle L width of rectangle J width of rectangle L ? = Compare the ratios of corresponding sides to see if they are equal. Example Continued
Which rectangles are similar? A 8 ft 4 ft B6 ft 3 ft C 5 ft 2 ft Since the three figures are all rectangles, all the angles are right angles. So the corresponding angles are congruent. Try This
16 20 The ratios are equal. Rectangle A is similar to rectangle B. The notation A ~ B shows similarity. The ratios are not equal. Rectangle A is not similar to rectangle C. 24 = 24 length of rectangle A length of rectangle B width of rectangle A width of rectangle B ? = length of rectangle A length of rectangle C width of rectangle A width of rectangle C ? = Compare the ratios of corresponding sides to see if they are equal. Try This
Use the properties of similar figures to answer each question. 1. A rectangular house is 32 ft wide and 68 ft long. On a blueprint, the width is 8 in. Find the length on the blueprint. 2. Karen enlarged a 3 in. wide by 5 in. tall photo into a poster. If the poster is 2.25 ft wide, how tall is it? 3. Which rectangles are similar? 17 in ft A and B are similar. Lesson Quiz