What theorem states that two S are similar if two corresponding angles are congruent?

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There are three easy ways to prove similarity. These techniques are much like those employed to prove congruence--they are methods to show that all corresponding angles are congruent and all corresponding sides are proportional without actually needing to know the measure of all six parts of each triangle.

AA (Angle-Angle)

If two pairs of corresponding angles in a pair of triangles are congruent, then the triangles are similar. We know this because if two angle pairs are the same, then the third pair must also be equal. When the three angle pairs are all equal, the three pairs of sides must also be in proportion. Picture three angles of a triangle floating around. If they are the vertices of a triangle, they don't determine the size of the triangle by themselves, because they can move farther away or closer to each other. But when they move, the triangle they create always retains its shape. Thus, they always form similar triangles. The diagram below makes this much more clear.

Another way to prove triangles are similar is by SSS, side-side-side. If the measures of corresponding sides are known, then their proportionality can be calculated. If all three pairs are in proportion, then the triangles are similar.

SAS (Side-Angle-Side)

If two pairs of corresponding sides are in proportion, and the included angle of each pair is equal, then the two triangles they form are similar. Any time two sides of a triangle and their included angle are fixed, then all three vertices of that triangle are fixed. With all three vertices fixed and two of the pairs of sides proportional, the third pair of sides must also be proportional.

Conclusion

These are the main techniques for proving congruence and similarity. With these tools, we can now do two things.

• Given limited information about two geometric figures, we may be able to prove their congruence or similarity.
• Given that figures are congruent or similar, we can deduce information about their corresponding parts that we didn't previously know.

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All congruent figures are similar, but it does not mean that all similar figures are congruent.

Two polygons of the same number of sides are similar, if:

1. Their corresponding angles are equal.
2. Their corresponding sides are in the same ratio.

Two triangles are similar, if:

1. Their corresponding angles are equal.
2. Their corresponding sides are in the same ratio.

According to Greek mathematician Thales, “The ratio of any two corresponding sides in two equiangular triangles is always the same.”

• If a line is drawn parallel to one side of a triangle to intersect the other two sides in distinct points, the other two sides are divided in the same ratio.
• If a line divides any two sides of a triangle in the same ratio, then the line is parallel to the third side.
• If in two triangles, corresponding angles are equal, then their corresponding sides are in the same ratio (or proportion) and hence the two triangles are similar.
• If two angles of one triangle are respectively equal to two angles of another triangle, then the two triangles are similar.
• If in two triangles, sides of one triangle are proportional to the sides of the other triangle, then their corresponding angles are equal and hence the two triangles are similar.
• If one angle of a triangle is equal to one angle of the other triangle and the sides including these angles are proportional, then the two triangles are similar.
• The ratio of areas of two similar triangles is equal to the square of the ratio of their corresponding sides.
• If a perpendicular is drawn from the vertex of the right angle of a right triangle to the hypotenuse then triangles on both sides of the perpendicular are similar to the whole triangle and to each other.
• In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.

According to the Indian mathematician Budhayan, “The diagonal of a rectangle produces by itself the same area as produced by its both sides (i.e., length and breadth).”

In a triangle, if square of one side is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides, then the angle opposite the first side is a right angle.

If in a triangle, square of one side is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides, then the angle opposite the first side is a right angle.

THEOREM 1:

If a line is drawn parallel to one side of a triangle to intersect the other two sides in distinct points, the other two sides are divided in the same ratio.

Construction: ABC is a triangle. DE || BC and DE intersects AB at D and AC at E.

Join B to E and C to D. Draw DN ⊥ AB and EM ⊥ AC.

To prove: `(AD)/(DB)=(AE)/(EC)`

Proof:

`text(ar AEM)=1/2xx(AD)xx(EM)`

Similarly;

`text(ar BDE)=1/2xx(DB)xx(EM)`

`text(ar ADE)=1/2xx(AE)xx(DN)`

`text(ar DEC)=1/2xx(EC)xx(DN)`

Hence;

`text(ar ADE)/text(ar BDE)=(1/2xx(AD)xx(EM))/(1/2xx(DB)xx(EM))=(AD)/(DB)`

Similarly;

`text(ar ADE)/text(ar DEC)=(AE)/(EC)`

Triangles BDE and DEC are on the same base, i.e. DE and between same parallels, i.e. DE and BC.

Hence, ar(BDE) = ar(DEC)

From above equations, it is clear that;

`(AD)/(DB)=(AE)/(EC)` proved

THEOREM 2:

If a line divides any two sides of a triangle in the same ratio, then the line is parallel to the third side.

Construction: ABC is a triangle in which line DE divides AB and AC in the same ratio. This means: `(AD)/(DB)=(AE)/(EC)`

To Prove: DE || BC

Let us assume that DE is not parallel to BC. Let us draw another line DE’ which is parallel to BC.

Proof:

If DE’ || BC, then we have;

`(AB)/(DB)=(AE’)/(E’C)`

According to the theorem;

`(AB)/(DB)=(AE)/(EC)`

Then according to the first theorem; E and E’ must be coincident.

This proves: DE || BC

THEOREM 3:

If in two triangles, corresponding angles are equal, then their corresponding sides are in the same ratio (or proportion) and hence the two triangles are similar. This is also called AAA (Angle-Angle-Angle) criterion.

Construction: Two triangles ABC and DEF are drawn so that their corresponding angles are equal. This means:

∠ A =∠ D, ∠ B = ∠ E and ∠ C = ∠ F

To prove:

`(AB)/(DE)=(AC)/(DF)=(BC)/(EF)`

Draw a line PQ in the second triangle so that DP = AB and PQ = AC

Proof:

`ΔABC≅ΔDPQ`

Because corresponding sides of these two triangles are equal

This means; ∠ B = ∠ P = ∠ E and PQ || EF

This means;

`(DP)/(PE)=(DQ)/(QF)`

Hence;

`(AB)/(DE)=(AC)/(DF)`

`(AB)/(DE)=(BC)/(EF)`

Hence;

`(AB)/(DE)=(AC)/(DF)=(BC)/(EF)` proved

THEOREM 4:

If in two triangles, sides of one triangle are proportional to the sides of the other triangle, then their corresponding angles are equal and hence the two triangles are similar. This is also called SSS (Side-Side-Side) criterion.

Construction: Two triangles ABC and DEF are drawn so that their corresponding sides are proportional. This means:

`(AB)/(DE)=(AC)/(DF)=(BC)/(EF)`

To Prove: ∠ A = ∠ D, ∠ B = ∠ E and ∠ C = ∠ F

And hence; Δ ABC ∼ Δ DEF

In triangle DEF, draw a line PQ so that DP = AB and DQ = AC

Proof:

`ΔABC≅ΔDPQ`

Because corresponding sides of these two triangles are equal

This means;

`(DP)/(PE)=(DQ)/(QF)=(PQ)/(EF)`

This also means; ∠ P = ∠ E and ∠ Q = ∠ F

We have taken; ∠ A = ∠ D, ∠ B = ∠ P and ∠ C = ∠ Q

Hence; ∠ A = ∠ D, ∠ B = ∠ E and ∠ C = ∠ F

From AAA criterion;

Δ ABC ∼ Δ DEF proved

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