8.

5 Proving Triangles are Similar

Geometry
Objectives:
• Use similarity theorems to prove
that two triangles are similar
• Use similar triangles to solve real-
life problems such as finding the
height of a climbing wall.
Using Similarity Theorems
• In this lesson, you will study 2
alternate ways of proving that two
triangles are similar: Side-Side-
Side Similarity Theorem and the
Side-Angle-Side Similarity
Theorem. The first theorem is
proved in Example 1 and you are
asked to prove the second in
Exercise 31.
Side Side Side(SSS) Similarity
Theorem
• If the corresponding sides of two
triangles are proportional, then the
triangles are similar.
P
A

Q R

THEN ∆ABC ~ ∆PQR

B C

AB BC CA
= =
PQ QR RP
 Side Angle Side Similarity Thm.
• If an angle of one triangle is
congruent to an angle of a second
triangle and the lengths of the
sides including these angles are
proportional, then the triangles are
similar. M

P N

ZX XY
If X  M and =
Z Y PM MN

THEN ∆XYZ ~ ∆MNP

Ex. 1: Proof of Theorem 8.2
•Given: •Prove
RS ST TR ∆RST ~ ∆LMN
= =
LM MN NL
Locate P on RS so that PS = LM. Draw PQ so that PQ ║ RT.
Then ∆RST ~ ∆PSQ, by the AA Similarity Postulate, and

RS ST TR
= =
LM MN NL

Because PS = LM, you can substitute in the

given proportion and find that SQ = MN and
QP = NL. By the SSS Congruence Theorem,
it follows that ∆PSQ  ∆LMN Finally, use the
definition of congruent triangles and the AA
Similarity Postulate to conclude that ∆RST ~
∆LMN.
Ex. 2: Using the SSS Similarity Thm.
• Which of the three triangles are
similar?
E
12 C
14
A 6 4 G J

6 9 F D
8 6 10
B

To decide which, if any, of the triangles are similar, you need

to consider the ratios of the lengths of corresponding sides.
Ratios of Side Lengths of ∆ABC and ∆DEF.

AB 6 3 CA 12 3 BC 9 3
= = = = = =
DE 4 2 FD 8 2 EF 6 2

Because all of the ratios are equal, ∆ABC ~

∆DEF.
Ratios of Side Lengths of ∆ABC ~
∆GHJ
AB 6 CA 12 6 BC 9
= =1 = = =
GH 6 JG 14 7 HJ 10

Because the ratios are not equal, ∆ABC and

∆GHJ are not similar.

Since ∆ABC is similar to ∆DEF and ∆ABC is not

similar to ∆GHJ, ∆DEF is not similar to ∆GHJ.
Ex. 3: Using the SAS Similarity Thm.
• Use the given lengths to prove that
∆RST ~ ∆PSQ.
S
Given: SP=4, PR = 12, SQ
4 5 = 5, and QT = 15;
P Q
Prove: ∆RST ~ ∆PSQ

15 Use the SAS Similarity

12
Theorem. Begin by finding
the ratios of the lengths of
R T the corresponding sides.

SR SP + PR 4 + 12 16 = 4
= = =
SP SP 4 4
 ST SQ + QT 5 + 15 20 = 4
= = =
SQ SQ 5 5

So, the side lengths SR and ST are

proportional to the corresponding side lengths
of ∆PSQ. Because S is the included angle in
both triangles, use the SAS Similarity Theorem
to conclude that ∆RST ~ ∆PSQ.
Using Similar Triangles in Real Life
• Ex. 6 – Finding Distance indirectly.
• To measure the width of a river,
you use a surveying technique, as
shown in the diagram.

63

12

9
Solution
By the AA Similarity
63

Postulate, ∆PQR ~ ∆STR.

RQ PQ
= Write the proportion.
12
RT ST
9
RQ 63
= Substitute.
12 9

RQ = 12 ● 7 Multiply each side by

12.

RQ = 84 Solve for TS.

So the river is 84 feet wide.