PUSD Math News – Mathematics 2

Module 6: Similarity and Right Triangle Trigonometry

Module 6 Overview – Similarity and Scan the QR code below to take you
Right Triangle Trigonometry directly to the PUSD Secondary Math
(Standards: G.SRT.1, G.SRT.2, G.SRT.3, G.SRT.4, Resources webpage for
G.SRT.5, G.SRT.6, G.SRT.7, G.SRT.8, G.CO.9, G.CO.10, Mathematics 2, Module 6: Similarity
G.GPE.5, G.GPE.6, F.TF.8)
and Right Triangle Trigonometry
Student and Teacher materials can be found at
Mathematics Vision Project You will find the student text, newsletter,
http://www.mathematicsvisionproject.org/ standards for the module, homework help
(Curriculum>Secondary Mathematics video links and more!
Two>Module 6: Similarity and Right Triangle
Trigonometry)

In Module 6 students develop and formalize the

definition of dilations and proportional reasoning.
With dilations and proportions in mind, a formal
development of similarity follows. They then identify
whether figures are similar and use the proportions
within similar figures to solve problems. Students https://goo.gl/1D5T4e
analyze relationships formed by transversals and
parallel lines by identifying and using the similar
triangles. Then students narrow their focus to derive
the location of a point between two points at a given Vocabulary and Major Mathematical
proportion and to use proportions of similar triangles Concepts
to prove the Pythagorean Theorem. Finally, similarity
Note: Section numbers followed by an H will be
is used to develop an understanding of sine, cosine, and addressed in the Honors Mathematics 2 course.
tangent leading to a study of trigonometry. They learn
how to find unknown angles and sides, and how to
solve a right triangle.
Prerequisite Concepts and Skills:
Students continue to gain proficiency in the Standards  Angle relationships with parallel lines
for Mathematical Practice. Module 6 includes an  Transformations (Translations,
extensive use of MP8, look for and express regularity in rotations, and reflections)
repeated reasoning, as student repeatedly go back to
the concepts of similarity learned at the beginning of
 Pythagorean Theorem
the unit and use them to develop each new  Slope
concept. Students also focus on MP7, look for and  Sum of the angles of a triangle
make use of structure, as they continually use  Solving equations
proportions throughout the unit. MP3, construct  Congruent triangles
viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others,  Arithmetic mean
is used in several of the tasks as students are required
 Geometric mean
to make or examine conjectures and then verify
them. The trigonometry at the end requires MP4,
Model with mathematics, as students use trigonometry
to find measures in real world contexts.
 PUSD Math News – Mathematics 2
Module 6: Similarity and Right Triangle Trigonometry

AA Similarity postulate (6.3) – if two angles of Arithmetic Mean (6.7) – the arithmetic average
one triangle are congruent to two angles of of a set of numerical values, calculated by adding
another triangle, then the triangles are similar. them together and dividing by the number of
Example: terms in the set. In section 6.7 this process may
be used to find missing terms in a sequence.

Center of dilation (6.1) – a fixed point in the

plane about which all points are expanded or
contracted. A dilation stretches or shrinks the
Image A- http://www.mathwords.com/a/aa_similarity.htm
original figure according to a scale factor and the
center of dilation (see point O in Image D).
Angle of depression (6.10) – from a horizontal,
look down, the angle from the horizontal to your
Congruent (6.3) – two figures are congruent if
line of sight is called the angle of depression (see
they have exactly the same size and shape.
Image B).
Angles and line segments are congruent if they
have the exact same measurement.
Angle of elevation (6.10) – from a horizontal,
look up, the angle from the horizontal to your
Cosine (6.9) – the trigonometric function that is
line of sight is called the angle of elevation (see
equal to the ratio of the length of a side adjacent
Image B).
to an acute angle (in a right triangle) to the
Example:
length of the hypotenuse (see Image J).

Dilation (6.1-6.3) – a transformation of the

plane that produces an image that is the same
shape as the original, but is a different size. If O is
the center of the dilation and a non-zero number
k is the scale factor, then A’ is the image of point
Image B- 𝐴′
http://bscstudent.buffalostate.edu/kajfkr79/web/Masters_Project/Angle A if O, A and A’ are collinear and =k
s_of_Elevaation_and_Depression.html 𝐴
Example:
Angle of reference (6.8) – the angle of a right
triangle used to determine the trigonometric
ratios sine, cosine and tangent. The example
below uses angle A as the angle of reference. If
Angle C is the angle of reference opposite and
adjacent sides would be reversed.
Example:

Image D-
http://www.regentsprep.org/regents/math/geometry/gt3/ldilate2.htm

Image C
 PUSD Math News – Mathematics 2
Module 6: Similarity and Right Triangle Trigonometry

Geometric mean (6.7) – the nth root of the Proportional (6.1) – when two ratios are
product of n numbers. For example, the equivalent. In this module corresponding sides
geometric mean of 2, 4 and 8 is the cube root of of similar shapes are proportional, which means
64 or 4. In section 6.7 this process may be used each set of corresponding sides has the same
to find missing terms in a sequence. ratio.
Example:
Hypotenuse (6.8) – the longest side of a right
triangle, it is the side opposite the right angle
(see Image C).

Image (6.1) – the final shape and position of an

object after a transformation is performed on a
pre-image (see triangle A’B’C’ in Image D).

Inverse trigonometric functions (6.10) – in

this module, inverse trigonometric functions
(sin-1, cos-1 and tan-1) are used to find a missing
angle when two sides of a right triangle are given
(see video link Inverse trigonometric functions on Image F- http://math-problems.math4teaching.com/theorems-on-
a graphing calculator at the end of this proportional-sides-of-triangles/
newsletter).
Proportionality statement (6.2) – an equation
Example: that equates two ratios.

Example:

In the diagram,
∆BTW ~ ∆ ETC,

Write the statement of

Image E- https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/trig-inverse-sin-cos- proportionality.
tan.html
𝐸𝑇 𝑇𝐶 𝐶𝐸
Pre-image (6.1) – the original shape and = =
𝐵𝑇 𝑇𝑊 𝑊𝐵
position of an object prior to a transformation
(see triangle ABC in Image D). Image G

Ratio (6.1) – the quotient or comparison of two

quantities (for example a and b) measured in the
𝑎
same units. In this module it is written as , but a
𝑏
ratio can also be written as a : b.
 PUSD Math News – Mathematics 2
Module 6: Similarity and Right Triangle Trigonometry

Scale factor (6.1) – the ratio of lengths of two

corresponding sides of two similar polygons. Trigonometric ratios (6.8) – the ratios defined
below as sine, cosine and tangent.
Similar figures (6.1) – Two figures are similar if
one is the image of the other under a Example:
transformation from the plane into itself that
multiplies all distances by the same positive
scale factor, k. That is to say, one figure is a
dilation of the other.

Similar polygons (6.3) – two polygons are

similar if all corresponding angles are congruent
and all corresponding pairs of sides are
proportional.
Example:
Image J- http://precalc0.weebly.com/41.html

Facts about Dilation

 Lines are taken to lines, and line segments to

Image H- http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-identify- line segments of proportional length in the
and-name-similar-polygons.html ratio given by the scale factor.
 Angles are taken to angles of the same
Sine (6.9) – the trigonometric function that is measure.
equal to the ratio of the side opposite an acute  A line not passing through the center of a
angle (in a right triangle) to the hypotenuse (see dilation is taken to a parallel line, and lines
Image J). passing through the center of dilation are
unchanged.
Tangent (6.9) – the trigonometric function that  To describe a dilation, specify a center of
is equal to the ratio of the side opposite an acute dilation and a scale factor. The center of
angle (in a right triangle) to the side adjacent to dilation is a fixed point in the plane about
the same acute angle see Image J). which all points are expanded or contracted.
It is the only invariant (unchanging) point
Transversal (6.4) – a line that intersects two or under a dilation.
more lines in the same plane at different points.  Dilations create similar figures – the image
Example: and pre-image are the same shape, but
different sizes (unless the scale factor is 1,
then the image and pre-image are
congruent).

Image I-
https://gcps.desire2learn.com/d2l/lor/viewer/viewFile.d2lfile/6605/11
031/Angle_Pairs_print.html
 PUSD Math News – Mathematics 2
Module 6: Similarity and Right Triangle Trigonometry

Theorems used in this module 6.3 – Comparing definitions of similarity

based on dilations and relationships between
 Vertical angles are congruent. corresponding sides and angles
 Measures of interior angles of a triangle sum
to 180 degrees. Solving proportions
 When transversals cross parallel lines, https://goo.gl/FrPAat
alternate interior angles are congruent and
corresponding angles are congruent.
 A line parallel to one side of a triangle divides 6.4 – Examining proportional relationships of
the other two sides proportionally. segments when two transversals intersect
 If an altitude is drawn to the hypotenuse of a sets of parallel lines
right triangle, the length of the altitude is the
geometric mean between the lengths of the How to find a missing measure with similar
two segments formed on the hypotenuse. triangles
 If an altitude is drawn to the hypotenuse of a https://goo.gl/WGzoTH
right triangle, the length of each leg of the
right triangle is the geometric mean between Angles formed by parallel lines and transversals
the length of the hypotenuse and the length https://goo.gl/iyJm5p
of the segment on the hypotenuse adjacent to
the leg. Figuring out angles between transversals and
parallel lines
https://goo.gl/SbsYag
Main Topics
Note: Section numbers followed by an H will be
addressed in the Honors Mathematics 2 course. 6.5 – Applying theorems about lines, angles
and proportional relationships when parallel
Section in student text – Task done in class lines are crossed by multiple transversals
Related Homework Help Videos
See video suggestion for sections 6.3 and 6.4
6.1 – Describing the essential features of a
dilation 6.6 – Applying understanding of similar and
congruent triangles to find midpoint or any
Comparing side lengths after dilation point on a line segment that partitions the
https://goo.gl/mavaKs segment in a given ratio

Finding the mean

6.2 – Examining proportionality relationships https://goo.gl/DWuXf
in triangles that are known to be similar to
each other based on dilations Finding a point part way between two points
https://goo.gl/EoE1Ld
How to perform a dilation
https://goo.gl/c6wmtD
 PUSD Math News – Mathematics 2
Module 6: Similarity and Right Triangle Trigonometry

6.7 – Using similar triangles to prove the 6.10 – Solving for unknown values in right
Pythagorean theorem and theorems about triangles using trigonometric ratios
geometric means in right triangles
Tutorial Activity: Angles of elevation and
Pythagorean theorem proof using similarity depression
https://goo.gl/ylShwW https://goo.gl/hP2dCD

Finding arithmetic means (missing terms) Using trigonometry to solve a right triangle
https://goo.gl/1b3RMq https://goo.gl/N2jqEz

Finding geometric means (missing terms) Inverse Trigonometric functions on a graphing

https://goo.gl/Yslbqy calculator
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOKJn1wU
krI
6.8 – Developing an understanding of right
triangle trigonometric relationships based on
similar triangles 6.11 – Practicing setting up and solving right
triangles to model real world context
Triangle similarity and the trigonometric ratios
https://goo.gl/72dCZK How to solve a right triangle word problem with a
missing angle
Finding the trigonometric ratios in a right https://goo.gl/wVbgRl
triangle
https://goo.gl/YJrUVG

How to solve a quadratic by factoring (to find x-

intercepts)
https://goo.gl/5G9a5i

6.9 – Finding relationships between the sine

and cosine ratios for right triangles, including
the Pythagorean identity

Match trigonometric values and side ratios

https://goo.gl/S2K5e6

Introduction to the Pythagorean trigonometric

identity
https://goo.gl/rqBE6O