Mathematics

Similarity: Triangle
Similarity Theorems

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Jerry R. Espelimbergo

Editor: Lara Charrise Reyes-Calumbano

Reviewer: Michael R. Lee

Layout: Ma. Fatima D. Delfin and Michiko Remyflor V. Trangia

Management Team: Neil Vincent C. Sandoval

Education Program Supervisor, LRMS

Michael R. Lee
Education Program Supervisor, Mathematics

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 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master the similarity of figures. The scope of this module permits it to be used in many
different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level
of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course.
But the order in which you read them can be changed to correspond with the textbook
you are now using.
The module is about the Triangle Similarity Theorem. After going through this
module, you are expected to illustrate the similarity and prove the conditions for
similarity of triangles.
1.1 SAS similarity theorem
1.2 SSS similarity theorem
1.3 AA similarity theorem
1.4 right triangle similarity
1.5 Special right triangle theorems

What I Know

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write your chosen letter on a separate sheet of
paper.
1. Write the similarity statement of the figure on the right.
A. ∆XYZ~∆DEF C. ∆XYZ~∆DFE
B. ∆XYZ~∆FDE D. ∆ZYX~∆FDE

2. Two right triangles have an acute angle with same measure. What is the most
direct way to prove that the triangles are similar?
A. SSS similarity Theorem C. AA similarity Postulate
B. SAS similarity Theorem D. SSA similarity Theorem

3. If the length of the altitude drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 10

inches, the number of inches in the lengths of the segments of the hypotenuse
may be ____________.
A. 5 and 20 C. 3 and 7
B. 2 and 5 D. 50 and 50

4. The lengths of the two legs of a right triangle are 2 and 2√3. What is the length of
the hypotenuse?
A. 4√3 C. √14
B. 4 D. √7

5. The altitude drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides the hypotenuse
into segments of lengths 4 and 12. The length of the shorter leg of the right
triangle is __________.
A. 8 C. √48
B. √20 D. √192

6. The accompanying diagram shows two similar triangles.

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 Which proportion could be used to solve for 𝑥?
𝑥 9 32 12
A. 24 = 15 C. 𝑥 = 15
24 15 32 15
B. 9
= 𝑥
D. 12
= 𝑥

7. What similarity concept justifies that ∆𝐵𝐸𝑇~∆𝑊𝐼𝑁?

A. Right Triangle Proportionality Theorem
B. Triangle proportionality Theorem
C. SSS Similarity Theorem
D. SAS Similarity Theorem

8. Which of the following conditions is NOT sufficient to identify a pair of congruent

triangles?
A. Three pairs of corresponding sides are proportional (SSS).
B. Two pairs of corresponding sides are proportional, and their included
angles are equal (SAS).
C. Two pairs of corresponding sides are proportional, and one pair of non-
included angles are equal (SSA).
D. Two pairs of angles are equal (AA).

9. Are the triangles at the right similar?

A. No, not similar C. Yes, similar by SAS.
B. Yes, similar by AA D. Yes, similar by SSS.

10. What is true about angles of similar triangles?

A. Opposite angles are congruent.
B. Corresponding angles are congruent.
C. Corresponding angles are complementary.
D. Corresponding angles are supplementary.

Lesson
Similarity:
1 Triangle Similarity Theorems
Two polygons are similar if and only if their corresponding angles are congruent
and corresponding side lengths are proportional. In the figures below, BEST is similar
to WORK.
Corresponding angles

∠B≅∠W, ∠E≅∠O

∠S≅∠R, ∠T≅∠K
Proportion of Corresponding Sides Symbols of similarity
𝐵𝐸 𝐸𝑆 𝑆𝑇 𝑇𝐵
𝑊𝑂
= 𝑂𝑅 = 𝑅𝐾 = 𝐾𝑊 ∎𝐵𝐸𝑆𝑇~∎𝑊𝑂𝑅𝐾

What’s In

If two triangles are similar, as the figure below, you may conclude that:
 corresponding angles are congruent: ∠𝐴 ≅ ∠𝐸, ∠𝐵 ≅ ∠𝐹 and ∠𝐶 ≅ ∠𝐺; and
𝐴𝐵 𝐵𝐶 𝐶𝐴
 the lengths of corresponding sides are in proportion: 𝐸𝐹 = 𝐹𝐺 = 𝐺𝐸.

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 It is not practical to always check all corresponding angle of two triangles are
congruent and likewise each of their corresponding sides is proportional to say that the
two triangles are similar. You need shortcuts so you can quickly say that the two
triangles are similar.

What’s New

In the same way as we have postulates and theorems in proving congruency

between triangles, we also have postulates and theorems to prove similarity between
triangles. A postulate is an accepted statement of fact while a theorem is a conjecture
that is proven.

What is It

Proves the conditions for similarity of triangles.

The AA Postulate of Similarity: Two triangles are similar if two angles of one triangle
are congruent to the corresponding angles of the other triangle.

∆𝑅𝑆𝑊 ~ ∆𝑉𝑆𝐵 because ∠𝑅𝑆𝑊 ≅ ∠𝑉𝑆𝐵 (they are vertical

angles) and ∠𝑅 ≅ ∠𝑉 (they have equal measures), and so they
are similar by AA postulate of similarity.

The SAS Similarity Theorem: If the lengths of two pairs of corresponding sides of two
triangles are in proportion and their included angles are congruent, then the triangles
are similar.

Two triangles have same shape if they have one

pair of angles congruent and the sides forming
those angles are in proportion. If in the figure
shows that
𝐻𝐷 𝐻𝐴
𝑃𝑇
= 𝑃𝑂 and ∠𝐻 ≅ ∠𝑃, then ∆𝐻𝐴𝐷~∆𝑃𝑂𝑇

The SSS Similarity Theorem: If the

lengths of corresponding sides of two
triangles are proportional, then the
triangle are similar. If in the figure below
shows that
𝐻𝐷 𝐻𝐴 𝐷𝐴
𝑃𝑇
= 𝑃𝑂 = 𝑇𝑂 , then ∆HAD~∆POT.

The Right Triangle Similarity Theorem: In a right

triangle, the altitude to the hypotenuse divides the
triangles into two triangles each of which is similar to the
original triangle. ∆𝐴𝐶𝐷~∆𝐶𝐵𝐷~∆𝐴𝐵𝐶.

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Two important corollaries of this theorem tell the segments formed on the hypotenuse
are related to the legs and to the altitude on the hypotenuse.

1. The altitude is the geometric mean to the segments into which it divides the
hypotenuse. In the figure above, the measures of the altitude (ℎ) can be computed
by the formula: ℎ = √𝑥𝑦.
Note: Geometric mean of two positive numbers 𝑎 and 𝑏 is the positive number
𝑎 𝑥
𝑥 such that = or 𝑥 = √𝑎𝑏.
𝑥 𝑏
Example: What is the geometric mean of 6 and 24?
Solution: √6(24) = √144 = 12

2. Each leg is the geometric mean of the hypotenuse and the segment of the
hypotenuse adjacent to the leg. In the figure above, the measures of 𝑎 and 𝑏 can
be computed by the formulas: 𝑎 = √𝑐𝑥 and 𝑏 = √𝑐𝑦.

Example: If 𝐵𝐴 = 9 and 𝐷𝐴 = 6, find 𝑎, 𝑏, ℎ and 𝑥.

Solutions:
1. To find 𝑥: 𝐵𝐴 = 𝐵𝐷 + 𝐷𝐴
(The Whole is equal to the sum of its parts)
𝐵𝐴 = 9, 𝐵𝐷 = 𝑥 and 𝐷𝐴 = 6
𝐵𝐴 = 𝐵𝐷 + 𝐷𝐴 → 9 = 𝑥 + 6 → 9 − 6 = 𝑥 → 𝒙 = 𝟑

2. ℎ = √𝑥𝑦 → ℎ = √3(6) → ℎ = √18 → 𝒉 = 𝟑√𝟐

3. 𝑏 = √𝑐𝑦 → 𝑏 = √9(6) → 𝒃 = 𝟑√𝟔
4. 𝑎 = √𝑐𝑥 → 𝑎 = √9(3) → 𝒂 = 𝟑√𝟑

The 𝟑𝟎° − 𝟔𝟎° − 𝟗𝟎° Right Triangle Theorem: The shorter leg is the side opposite the
30° angle and is one – half the length of the hypotenuse. The longer leg is the side
opposite the 60° angle and is √3 times the length of the shorter leg.
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𝐵𝐶 = 2 𝐴𝐵; 𝐴𝐶 = 𝐵𝐶√3
Example: If 𝐴𝐵 = 12, find 𝐵𝐶 and AC.
1
Solution: 𝐵𝐶 = 2 (12) 𝐴𝐶 = 𝐵𝐶√3
𝑩𝑪 = 𝟔 𝑨𝑪 = 𝟔√𝟑

The 𝟒𝟓° − 𝟒𝟓° − 𝟗𝟎° Right Triangle Theorem: The hypotenuse is √2 times the length
of either leg. 𝐴𝐶 = 𝐵𝐶 and 𝐵𝐴 = 𝐴𝐶√2 = 𝐵𝐶√2.
Example: If 𝐴𝐶 = 7, find 𝐵𝐶 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝐴.

Solution: 𝐵𝐶 = 𝐴𝐶 𝐵𝐴 = 𝐴𝐶√2

𝑩𝑪 = 𝟕 𝑩𝑨 = 𝟕√𝟐

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 What’s More

Activity 1. Can you prove that the triangles are similar? If so, write the similarity
statement and the postulate or theorem you used. The first one is done for you.

Answer: YES, ∆ABC~∆EBD by SAS similarity

Theorem.
∠𝐴𝐵𝐶 ≅ ∠𝐸𝐵𝐷, because vertical angles are congruent.
𝐴𝐵 12 2 𝐶𝐵 16 2
𝐸𝐵
= 18 = 3 and 𝐷𝐵 = 24 = 3. Therefore, ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶~∆𝐸𝐵𝐷 by
SAS similarity Theorem.

3.
1.

2. 4
.

Activity 2. Solve for the values of 𝑥 and 𝑦.

1. 3.

2. 4.

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 What I Have Learned

A. What are the postulate and theorems in proving similar triangles?

1. __________ postulate of similarity
2. __________ similarity theorem
3. __________ similarity theorem

B. Complete the following sentences with appropriate word/s to make the right
idea.
1. Two polygons are similar if and only if their corresponding __________are
congruent and corresponding __________ lengths are proportional.
2. In a right triangle, the altitude to the hypotenuse divides the triangles into
two triangles. Each of which is ____________________ to the original triangle.
3. In a right triangle, the measure of the altitude to the hypotenuse is the
____________________ to the segments into which it divides the hypotenuse.
4. In the 30° − 60° − 90° triangle, the shorter leg is the side opposite the 30° angle
and is ____________________ the length of the hypotenuse.
5. In the 30°-60°-90° triangle, the longer leg is the side opposite the 60° angle
and is √3 times the length of the ____________________.
6. In the 45°-45°-90° triangle, the____________________ is √2 times the length of
either leg.

What I Can Do

Activity 3: Solve the following problems.

1. In right triangle ABC, altitude CD is drawn to the hypotenuse AB. If DB=10 and
CD=20, find AB.

2. In ∆JKL, KJ=KL=18 inches, m∠JKL =120°. Find the area of ∆JKL.

̅̅̅̅̅ If 𝐶𝐷
̅̅̅̅ ||𝐴𝐵.
3. In the accompanying figure, 𝐷𝐸 ̅̅̅̅ =
12,
𝐶𝐴 = 20, and 𝐵𝐸 = 6, what is the length of
𝐶𝐸?

4. In the accompanying diagram of

∆𝐶𝐴𝑇, ̅̅̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅̅ 𝑇𝐺 = 𝑥, 𝐺𝐶 = 𝑥 − 1,
𝑊𝐺 ||𝐴𝑇,
𝐶𝑊 = 𝑥 + 5, and 𝑊𝐴 = 2𝑥 + 6. Find the
length of 𝑇𝐺.

5. In the accompanying diagram, ∆𝑅𝑆𝑇 is a right triangle, ̅̅̅̅

𝑆𝑈 is the altitude to
hypotenuse ̅̅̅̅̅
𝑅𝑇. 𝑅𝑇 = 16, and 𝑅𝑈 = 7.
What is the length of 𝑆𝑇?

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 Assessment

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write your chosen letter on a separate sheet of
paper.

1. The two figures below are similar. What is the correct similarity statement of the
two figures?
A. ADBC~EHGF
B. BDAC~EGFH
C. ABCD~EHGF
D. ABCD~EFGH

2. What is the most direct way to prove that the triangles are similar?
A. SSS similarity theorem
B. AA similarity postulate
C. SAS similarity theorem
D. SSA similarity theorem

3. If the length of the altitude drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 12

inches, the number of inches in the lengths of the segments of the hypotenuse
may be __________.
A. 12 and 12 C. 4 and 3
B. 7 and 5 D. 100 and 24

4. The lengths of the two legs of a right triangle are 8 and 8√3. What is the length
of the hypotenuse?
A. 4 C. 8√2
B. 8 D. 16

5. The altitude drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides the hypotenuse
into segments of lengths 4 and 12. The length of the longer leg of the right triangle
is __________.
A. 8 C. √20
B. 8√3 D. 16

6. Find the missing length. The triangles below are similar.

A. 60
B. 65
C. 66
D. 67
7. What similarity concept justifies that ∆𝑉𝑈𝑇~∆𝑉𝐸𝐹?
A. Right Triangle Proportionality Theorem
B. Triangle proportionality Theorem
C. SSS Similarity Theorem
D. SAS Similarity Theorem

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 8. Which of the following conditions is sufficient to identify a pair of congruent
triangles?
A. Three pairs of corresponding sides are proportional (SSS).
B. Two pairs of corresponding sides are proportional, and their included
angles are equal (SAS).
C. Two pairs of angles are equal (AA).
D. All the above.

9. Are the two triangles at the right similar?

A. No, not similar.
B. Yes, similar by AA.
C. Yes, similar by SAS.
D. Yes, similar by SSS.

10. In the right triangle 𝐴𝐵𝐶, 𝑚∠𝐶 = 90° and altitude ̅̅̅̅
𝐶𝐷 is drawn to hypotenuse ̅̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵.
If 𝐴𝐷 = 4 and 𝐷𝐵 = 5, what is 𝐴𝐶?
A. √20 C. √45
B. 6 D. 9

Additional Activities

Solve the following problems.

1. A 5-feet person is standing near a 30-feet high tree. If the length of the
person’s shadow is 3 feet, what is the length of the shadow of the tree?

2. The length of the shortest side of a triangle is 12, and the length of the shortest
side of a similar triangle is 5. If the longest side of the first triangle is 15, what
is the longest side of the smaller triangle?

3. The lengths of the sides of a triangle are 9, 15 and 21. If the length of the
shortest side of a similar triangle is 12, find the length of its longest side.

4. The accompanying diagram shows two similar triangles. Find x:

5. The lengths of the sides of a triangle are 14, 18, and 20. If the length of the
longest side of a similar triangle is 25, what is the perimeter of this triangle?

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