SIMILAR FIGURES AND INDIRECT

MEASUREMENT
Math 7
Unit 5

SIMILAR FIGURES AND INDIRECT MEASUREMENT

For polygons to be similar, three things

must be true.
Use the following example to figure out the
first one. Are these similar figures? How do
you know?

No, they are not similar because they are

not the same shape.

SIMILAR FIGURES AND INDIRECT MEASUREMENT

Use the following example to figure out the

next one. They have the same general shape,
but what is different about them? Be specific.
Remember, you dont know side lengths, so
dont focus too much on that aspect.

Corresponding angles must be congruent

(equal).

SIMILAR FIGURES AND INDIRECT MEASUREMENT

Now, if we knew side lengths, how could you

prove these are not similar mathematically.

10
5
Corresponding side lengths are not
proportional or do not share the same scale
factor.

SIMILAR FIGURES AND INDIRECT MEASUREMENT

In order for two shapes to be

considered mathematically similar, the
following must be true:

They have the same general shape

Corresponding angles are congruent
Corresponding side lengths are
proportional or share a common scale
factor.

SIMILAR FIGURES AND INDIRECT MEASUREMENT

Are these two figures mathematically

similar?
They have the same general
45
45

36
90

24

2
7

90

18

shape
Corresponding angles are
congruent

36 ? 24

27 18

Corresponding side lengths are proportional.

Therefore, the figures are similar.

SIMILAR FIGURES AND INDIRECT MEASUREMENT

Are the following figures similar?

8 ft.
18 ft.

5 ft.
9 ft.

No, they are not because the

corresponding sides are not proportional.

SIMILAR FIGURES AND INDIRECT MEASUREMENT

What happens if you know that rectangles ABCD

and PQRS are similar. How could we find x?
A
8B
12
Q
R
6
x

8 x

6 12
x = 16

Since these ratios are

equivalent, one method would
be to use a ratio table to find
the missing
multiply value.
by 2

multiply by 2

SIMILAR FIGURES AND INDIRECT MEASUREMENT

The following figures are similar. Solve

for the designated side.
5

3
y
8

5 8

3 y

5 y 24
5 5
y 4.8

SIMILAR FIGURES AND INDIRECT MEASUREMENT

The following figures are similar. Solve

for the designated side.
5

q
4
6

6 q

4 5
4q 30
4 4
q 7.5

SIMILAR FIGURES AND INDIRECT MEASUREMENT

Knowing what we do about similar

figures, how could we apply it to real
life? Lets find out.

SIMILAR FIGURES AND INDIRECT MEASUREMENT

A tree stands 12 ft. tall and casts a shadow

8 ft. long. At the same time, a person casts
a shadow that is 3 ft. long. To the nearest
tenth of a foot, how tall is the person? Draw
a picture, set up a proportion and solve.

12

8
3 tall.
The person
is 4 feet

12 8

x 3
8 x 36
8
8
x 4.5

SIMILAR FIGURES AND INDIRECT MEASUREMENT

This is called indirect measurement.

What do you think a good definition
would be for indirect measurement?

a method of determining length or

distance without measuring directly

SIMILAR FIGURES AND INDIRECT MEASUREMENT

Laura is 5.5 ft. tall and casts a shadow that is

3.2 ft. long. She is standing next to a flag
pole that is 23 ft. tall. To the nearest tenth of
a foot how long is the flag poles shadow?
Draw a picture, set up a proportion and solve.

5.5 3.2

23
f
23
5.5 f 73.6
5.5
5.5 5.5
f 13.4
f
3.2
The shadow is about 13.4 ft. long.

SIMILAR FIGURES AND INDIRECT MEASUREMENT

A Civil War monument in Charlestown,

Massachusetts is 221 ft. tall. It casts a shadow
189 feet long at the same time a nearby tree
casts a shadow 29 feet long. To the nearest
tenth of a foot, how tall is the tree?

221 189

a
29
189a 6409
189 189
a 33.9

221

29

189

The tree is about 33.9 feet tall.