CHAPTER 23

SIMILARITY
Learning objectives: Keywords:
◦ Calculate length of similar figures ◦ Similarity

◦ Use the relationships between areas of similar

triangles with corresponding results for similar
figures
 Similar shapes
If one shape is an enlargement of the other
then we say the shapes are similar.

The corresponding angles in two similar shapes are the same size and the lengths of their
corresponding sides are in the same ratio.

A similar shape can be a reflection or a rotation of the original.

The following triangles are similar because

Q A =  P, B = Q,
B
C and C = R.
R
A PQ QR PR
= =
AB BC AC
P
Finding the scale factor of an enlargement
We can find the scale factor for an enlargement by finding the ratio between any two
corresponding lengths.

length on enlargement
Scale factor =
corresponding length on original

The two corresponding lengths can be found using a ruler.

Always make sure that the two lengths are written using the same units before dividing
them.
Finding the scale factor of an enlargement
The following rectangles are similar. What is the scale factor
for the enlargement?

6 cm
9 cm

The scale factor for the enlargement is 9/6 = 1.5

Finding the lengths of missing sides
The following shapes are similar. What is the size of each
missing side and angle?

3.6c cm
3 cm
37°
a
37° 6 cm
5 cm 4.8 cm
4e cm

53° 53°
b
6 cm 7.2dcm

The scale factor for the enlargement is 6/5 = 1.2

Question:
Knowing that rectangles A & B are similar: 15
1- Find the value of x.
a) USING THE SCALE FACTOR METHOD
5
b) USING THE FRACTION METHOD
30 A B
𝑥
2- Calculate the area of rectangle A

3- Calculate the area of rectangle B

4- Write the areas of both rectangles as:

◦ A ratio in its simplest form as follows; AREA OF A : AREA OF B
◦ A scale factor

5- What do you notice about the relationship between scale factor of lengths and scale factor of areas?
Answer:
1- 15
a) USING THE SCALE FACTOR METHOD
5
Sclae factor of 3
30 A B
b) USING THE FRACTION METHOD
10

The value of x:

2- Calculate the area of rectangle A

3- Calculate the area of rectangle B

Answer:
15
4- Write the areas of both rectangles as:
◦ A ratio in its simplest form as follows; AREA OF A : AREA OF B
5
450 : 50
30 A B
9 : 1 10
◦ A scale factor
Scale factor = 9

5- What do you notice about the relationship between scale factor of lengths
and scale factor of areas?
Scale factor of area is the square of the scale factor of lengths
Scale factor of area = (scale factor of lengths) 2
9 = 32
 Lengths in similar shapes
Remember, when a shape is enlarged every length in the
shape is multiplied by a given scale factor.
Suppose we enlarge a cube with side length 2 cm by a
scale factor of 3:

length ×3

2 cm

6?
cm
The length is enlarged by a scale factor of 3.
 Areas in similar shapes
Compare the area of one face of the original cube to the
area of one face of the enlarged cube:

length ×3

area ×9
2
4 cm2

36
6 cm 2

The area is enlarged by a scale factor of 32.

 Volumes in similar shapes
Compare the volume of the original cube and the volume
of the enlarged cube:

length ×3

area ×9
2
8 cm3
volume ×27

216
6 cm
cm3

The volume is enlarged by a scale factor of 33.

 Similar shapes
length = 1 length = k

In general, if an object is enlarged by a scale factor of k:

area = 1 area = k2

its area or surface area is enlarged by a scale factor of k2

volume = 1 volume = k3

and its volume is enlarged by a scale factor of k3.

Example 1:
Two similar triangles have areas of 18 cm2 and 32
cm2 respectively.

If the base of the smaller triangle is 6 cm, find the

base of the larger triangle.
Check your answer:
Ratio of areas (k2) =

Ratio of lengths (K) =

=

The length of x =
Example 2:
Two similar cylinders have heights of 3 cm and 6
cm respectively. If the volume of the smaller
cylinder is 30 cm3, find the volume of the larger
cylinder.
Check your answer:
Scale factor of length (k) =

Scale factor of volume = k3 = 23 = 8

Volume of larger cylinder = 3

Example 3:
Check your answers:
Example 4:
Check your answers:
Check your answers:

Scale factor of area = k2

Scale factor of length =

Height of B = scale factor height of A

= 3 10
= 30 cm
Task: (Textbook Questions)