Okuzeka
Mathematics vocabulary · Geometry

Similar

Meaning in mathematics, with examples

/ˈsɪmɪlər/adjectiveCommon term

In mathematics, similar means: Having exactly the same shape but not necessarily the same size, so that corresponding angles are equal and corresponding sides are in the same ratio.

In Turkish: benzer

How it is used

Similar figures are linked by a scale factor. If the scale factor is k, lengths are multiplied by k, areas by k² and volumes by k³. The symbol is ~, as in △ABC ~ △DEF.

Example sentences

  1. The two triangles are similar, so the ratio of their sides is 2 to 5.

  2. Similar triangles let you find the height of a tree from the length of its shadow.

Common collocations

  • similar triangles
  • similar to
  • similar figures
  • scale factor
  • congruentExactly the same shape and size, so that one figure fits perfectly on top of the other, possibly after being turned or flipped over.
  • ratioA comparison of two or more quantities that shows how big one is compared with the other, written like 3:2 and read 'three to two'.
  • triangleA flat shape with three straight sides and three angles; the angles inside any triangle always add up to 180 degrees.
  • angleThe amount of turn between two lines or rays that meet at a point, measured in degrees or radians.

More terms: Geometry

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