Curated OER
Similarity and Dilations - Discover Properties of Similar Figures
Learners investigate properties of similar figures. In this properties of similar figures lesson, pupils construct similar figures using Cabri Jr. They dilate their figure to create a similar one, and discuss the relationships between...
Education Closet
West Side Shifts
Combine math, language arts, music, and dance with an activity focused on "America" from West Side Story. After listening to the song, learners compare the film to Romeo and Juliet, analyze the song's meter, design choreography, plan...
Willow Tree
Ratios and Proportions with Congruent and Similar Polygons
Investigate how similar and congruent figures compare. Learners understand congruent figures have congruent sides and angles, but similar figures only have congruent angles — their sides are proportional. After learning the...
EngageNY
The Angle-Angle (AA) Criterion for Two Triangles to Be Similar
What do you need to prove triangles are similar? Learners answer this question through a construction exploration. Once they establish the criteria, they use the congruence and proportionality properties of similar objects to find...
Illustrative Mathematics
Are They Similar?
Learners separate things that just appear similar from those that are actually similar. A diagram of triangles is given, and then a variety of geometric characteristics changed and the similarity of the triangles analyzed. Because the...
Curated OER
Similar Triangles and Trapezoids, and Circles
High schoolers answer two problems involving area of shaded regions. High schoolers then answers six questions involving perimeter, area, and circumferences. The remaining two questions involve ratios of similar figures.
Scholastic
Study Jams! Similar Figures
Discover how triangles are congruent based on their sides, angles, and proportionality. Learners explore the ways to determine similarity at their own pace, and then they practice afterwards with an assessment.
Virginia Department of Education
Similar Figures
How similar do figures have to be to be similar figures? Individuals learn to identify similar figures by verifying that angles are congruent and sides are proportional. Additionally, they match the corresponding parts of similar figures.
EngageNY
More About Similar Triangles
Determine whether two triangles are similar. The lesson presents opportunities for pupils to find the criterion needed to show that two triangles are similar. Scholars use the definition of similarity to find any missing side...
EngageNY
Special Relationships Within Right Triangles—Dividing into Two Similar Sub-Triangles
Why are right triangles so special? Pupils begin their study of right triangles by examining similar right triangles. Verifying through proofs, scholars recognize the three similar right triangles formed by drawing the altitude. Once...
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Congruent and Similar Polygons
What's similar about congruent and similar polygons? Young mathematicians first measure the side lengths and angles of given figures. They use these measurements to determine relationships between side lengths and angles of congruent and...
Virginia Department of Education
Similar Triangles
Pupils work in pairs to investigate what it takes to prove that two triangles are similar. They work through various shortcuts to find which are enough to show a similarity relationship between the triangles. Small groups work with the...
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Investigating Similar Triangles
Let your use of the resource be in proportion to its usefulness. Pupils investigate similar triangles by measuring side lengths and considering given angle measures. The results of the investigation help develop generalizations about...
Illustrative Mathematics
Joining Two Midpoints of Sides of a Triangle
Without ever using the actual term, this exercise has the learner develop the key properties of the midsegment of a triangle. This task leads the class to discover a proof of similar triangles using the properties of parallel lines cut...
EngageNY
Modeling Using Similarity
How do you find the lengths of items that cannot be directly measured? The 13th installment in a series of 16 has pupils use the similarity content learned in an earlier resource to solve real-world problems. Class members determine...
EngageNY
Prove the Pythagorean Theorem Using Similarity
Amaze your classes with the ability to find side lengths of triangles immediately — they'll all want to know your trick! Learners use the Pythagorean Theorem and special right triangle relationships to find missing side lengths.
Flipped Math
Prove Triangles Similar
Show more than one way to prove similarity. Scholars learn three different methods to show two triangles are similar, Angle-Angle, Side-Side-Side, and Side-Angle-Side. Pupils practice applying these methods to determine whether two given...
Flipped Math
Side Splitter Theorem
Apply perspective to similarity. Individuals learn about the Side Splitter Theorem by looking at perspective drawings. Pupils use the theorem and its corollary to find missing lengths in figures. Next, they practice using the theorem and...
Curated OER
Finding Volume of Similar Figures
Upper elementary and middle schoolers examine the Volumes of Similar Figures. They investigate the relationship between corresponding sides and evaluate the volume of similar figures. Pupils record their findings on various activity...
Curated OER
Unit 5: Worksheet 3 - Similar Triangles
In this similar triangles worksheet, students use proportions to solve for the missing sides of similar triangles. This two-page worksheet contains 16 multi-step problems.
Virginia Department of Education
Similar Solids and Proportional Reasoning
Double the dimensions, quadruple the surface area. Pairs build similar prisms and compare the ratios of their surface areas and volumes to the ratio of the heights. Given two similar cones, partners determine the ratios of the lateral...
EngageNY
The Side-Angle-Side (SAS) and Side-Side-Side (SSS) Criteria for Two Triangles to Be Similar
Playing with mathematics can invoke curiosity and excitement. As pupils construct triangles with given criteria, they determine the necessary requirements to support similarity. After determining the criteria, they practice verifying...
Education Development Center
Similar Triangles
Model geometric concepts through a hands-on approach. Learners apply similar triangle relationships to solve for an unknown side length. Before they find the solution, they describe the transformation to help identify corresponding sides.
Charleston School District
Identifying Series and Determining Congruence or Similarity
Learners consider a set of questions to determine a series of transformations that will move one figure to another. Once the series is determined, the pupil then determines whether the pre-image and image are either congruent or similar.