Here’s a Free Similar Figures Worksheet Practice Lesson

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A Quick Explanation of Similar Shapes

Similar Figures are figures that have the same shape but different sizes. Similar Shapes have equal angle measures but different side lengths. You can determine if two shapes are Similar Figures by following a series of transformations that will prove that they are similar. Transformations can include translations, reflections, rotations, and dilation. You can always double check to make sure that the figures are Similar Shapes by ensuring that they have the same shape and have been dilated by the same scale factor.

Common Core Standard: 8.G.C

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The Answer to: What are Similar Figures?

Similar Figures worksheet are shapes that have a similar shape however different sizes. Similar Figures worksheet have break even with point measures yet unique side lengths. You can decide whether two shapes are Similar Figures worksheet by following a progression of changes that will demonstrate that they are similar. You can check to see if they are similar by using translations, reflections, rotations, and dilation. Ensure that the figures are Similar Figures worksheet by guaranteeing that they have a similar shape and have been enlarged by a similar scale factor.

How to Solve Similar Figures in 2 Simple Steps

You can prove that figures are similar figures by using transformations on the coordinate grid.
You can use translations, rotations, reflections, or dilation’s to prove that the figures are similar.

Watch the short video where we complete our Similar Figures Example Worksheet

Watch our free video on how to solve Similar Figures. This video shows how to solve problems that are on our free Similar Figures worksheet that you can get by submitting your email above.

Watch the free Similar Figures video on YouTube here: Understanding Similar Figures

Video Transcript:

This video is about more practice with similar figures. You can get the similar figures word problems worksheet we use in this video for free by clicking on the link in the description below.

The first part of our similar figures worksheet asks us to determine if the figures below are similar. Now a similar figure is a figure that has the same shape but different sizes. When we say same shape that means that it has to have the same angles. For example, if we look at the first problem we’re given two triangles. Just because we’re given two triangles, which would technically be the same shape, the angles have to be the same. What that means is that they have to be the same exact figure, except the sizes are different.

If you look, these are the same shape but they may not have the same angles. If you look this angle in red and this angle in red, these are two different angles. This angle is wider than this angle and this angle in blue and this angle in blue are two different angles. This angle is wider than this one so that would mean that these shapes are not similar. We’re just going to write no.

Number two gives us two rectangles, which is the same shape. And then if you look, the rectangles have the same angle measures because they are all 90 degrees. These would be similar. And then number three these are two arrow is pointing straight up. Now these two arrows have different sizes. Obviously this arrow is larger than this arrow but they’re still the same shape which would mean that they are similar.

Part 2 of our similar figures worksheet asks us to describe the sequence of transformations that results in the transformation from figure a to figure a prime. What the phrase sequence of transformations means, means you have to describe how you can use translations, reflections, rotations, and dilations, to go from one figure to the other. In this case, to go from figure a to figure a prime.

First problem we’re going to do on our similar figures worksheet is number two. The directions say that we have to figure out how we go from figure A, which is the smaller shape to the figure a prime, which is the larger shape. In this case, in order to do that the first thing I’m going to do label all the vertices and I’m also going to write the coordinates of those vertices. If you look, the vertices here will be will say 1 X is 1 Y is 2, this vertices is X is 2 y is negative 2, this vertices X is negative 2 y is negative 2, and this vertice is X is negative 1 Y is 2. Then I’m going to label the vertices of a prime, which is the larger shape. This vertice is 2 4, this one is 4 negative 4, this one is negative 4 negative 4, and this one is negative 2 4.

Now that we have the vertices listed we can go ahead and make some assumptions about how we go from one to the next. Well if you look the shape gets larger or smaller which means it has to be a dilation. We have to use some type of dilation to go from one to the next now remember a dilation means you have to multiply the coordinates by a scale factor. In order to go from 1 2 into 2 4 we have to use a scale factor in the middle. In this case what we did was we multiplied everything times 2. If you multiply all of your coordinates times 2 you will go from the inner shape into the outer shape. The series of transformations to go from figure a into figure a prime would be a dilation with a scale factor of two and that would be the answer.