Pre-AlgebraSimilar Figures
Similar Figures
Learn about similar figures, their properties, and how to work with scale factors.
Understanding Similar Figures
What Makes Figures Similar?
- Same shape but possibly different sizes
- Corresponding angles are equal
- Corresponding sides are proportional
- Scale factor determines the size relationship
Scale Factor
- Ratio of corresponding sides
- Used to find missing measurements
- Can be written as a fraction, decimal, or ratio
- Scale factor = larger measurement ÷ smaller measurement
Properties of Similar Figures
- Angles remain the same size
- Sides change proportionally
- Area changes by square of scale factor
- Volume changes by cube of scale factor
Applications
- Maps and scale drawings
- Architecture and design
- Photography and image resizing
- Model making and miniatures
Practice Problems
Your Progress
Completion0%
Related Topics
Quick Tips
- Similar figures have the same shape but may be different sizes.
- The scale factor tells you how many times larger or smaller one figure is than another.
- Corresponding angles in similar figures are always equal.