GEOMETERY − Similar triangle (Solving problems)

NAME: ……………………………………………
CLASS: 10 …………
DATE: …………………………..

Area and volume of similar figures

From the previous section, we learnt that if two triangles are similar, the ratio of the their corresponding
sides will always be equal. This ratio can also be known as the factor / scale factor, k, of which the figure is
being dilated.
If the two triangles similar to one another, then the corresponding sides are being dilated by a factor of k as
shown in the diagram.
A
P
a c
h1 p r
h2

B C Q R
b q

AB = BC = AC
PQ QR PR Since ABC is similar to PQR,
a = b =c =k h
then 1 = k .
p q r h2
where k is scale factor.

 Area of the similar figures 1 bh

Area of ABC Area of PQR  Area of  ABC = 2
1

Area of PQR 1 qh
= 1 ( b )( h1 ) = 1 ( q )( h2 ) 2 2
2 2
Area of ABC = bh1 = b  h1 = k  k = k 2
Area of PQR qh2 q h2

In conclusion, if
(1) ABC is similar to PQR and
(2) the ratio of the corresponding sides of ABC to PQR is k
then
2
Area of ABC =  l1 
Area of PQR  l2 

 Volume of the similar figures

With the same argument, if solid A is similar to solid B and the ratio between the corresponding sides of
solid A to solid B is equal to k, then

3
Volume of solid A =  l A 
Volume of solid B  l B 

0580 IGCSE Mathematics/Extended/2020/Year 10 1

 Area of similar figures (2) In the diagram, AB and DE are parallel. The lines
AE and BD intersect at C such that AC is 3 cm
(1) For each of the following, determine the area of A.
and AE is 9 cm. Given that the area of triangle
(a) CDE is 42 cm2, find the area of the triangle ABC.

A B
x cm2
3 cm
2 A cm2 C
90 cm

6 cm 6 cm

12 cm 42 cm2
D E

( )
2
A = 6

()
90 12 x = 3
2

42 6
A = 1  90 = 22.5 cm 2
()
2
4 1
A=  42
2
A = 10.5 cm 2

(b)

A cm2 (3) The figure shows a triangle ABC. The points

8 cm 6.4 cm P and Q lie on AB and AC respectively such
34.4 cm2 that QP is parallel to CB. AQ = 4.5 m,
QC = 1.5 m and the area of quadrilateral
PBCQ is 18 m2. Calculate the area of the
triangle APQ.

( )
2 B
A = 8
34.4 6.4 P

()
2
A = 5  34.4 x m2
4
A
A = 53.75 cm 2 4.5 m Q 1.5 m C

2
x+18 m2
xm

4.5 m 6 m

( ) x + 18 = 16
2
x + 18 = 6
x 4.5 x 9
9 x + 162 = 16 x
()
2
x + 18 = 4
7 x = 162
x 3
x = 23.1 m 2

0580 IGCSE Mathematics/Extended/2020/Year 10 2

 Volume of similar figures
(1) In the diagram, the cylinders are similar.
5 cm

8 cm
V 900

The volume of the cylinder with a height of 5 cm

is V cm3 and the volume of the cylinder with a
height of 8 cm is 900 cm3. Calculate the value
of V.

()
3
V = 5
900 8

()
3
V = 5  900
8
V = 220 cm 3

(2) Cone A and cone B are similar.

8 cm
A s
400 B
1350

The slant height of cone A is 8 cm.

The volume of cone A is 400 cm3.
The volume of cone B is 1350 cm3.
Calculate the slant height of cone B.

()
3
1350 = s
400 8
s 3 = 1350  83
400
s = 1728
3

s = 3 1728
s = 12 cm

0580 IGCSE Mathematics/Extended/2020/Year 10 3