In the figure above, click 'reset'. The polygon PQRS is similar to LMNO.
Each side of PQRS is exactly twice the length of the corresponding side in LMNO.
So, for example, QR is twice MN and so on.
In addition, each interior angle of PQRS is congruent to the corresponding angle in LMNO.
For example the angles P and L are congruent.
Formal notation
Given two similar polygons ABCD and JKLM, we can write
ABCD ~ JKLM
which is read as "polygon ABCD is similar to polygon JKLM". The wavy line symbol means 'similar to'.
Rotation and reflection
Polygons can still be similar even if one of them is rotated, and/or mirror image of the other.
In the figure below, all three polygons are similar.
Starting with the polygon on the left, the center polygon is rotated clockwise 90°,
the right one is flipped vertically.
This is illustrated in more depth in
"Similar Triangles",
but is true for all similar polygons, not just triangles.
In the figure at the top of the page, click 'reflect'. The polygon PQRS is now reflected over the vertical green line.
It is still similar to LMNO. The trick is to notice which side corresponds to which. In this case the side QP
corresponds to NO for example. And the angle P corresponds to the angle O.
A way to remember these transformations is to imagine PQRS cut out of cardboard.
No matter how you rotate it or turn it over, it will remain similar to LMNO.
Properties of Similar Polygons
Corresponding angles are the same
In the figure at the top, the following angles are congruent:
P=L, S=O, R=N and Q=M
From this, it follows that the corresponding exterior angles will also be the same.
Corresponding sides are all in the same proportion
By definition each pair of corresponding sides are in the same proportion, or ratio.
Formally, in two similar polygons PQRS and LMNO :
Corresponding diagonals are in the same proportion
In each polygon the corresponding diagonals are in the same proportion. Their ratio is the same as the ratio of the sides.
Area ratio
The ratio of the areas of the two polygons is the square of the ratio of the sides.
So if the sides are in the ratio 3:1 then the areas will be in the ratio 9:1. This is
illustrated in more depth for triangles in
"Similar Triangles - ratio of areas",
but is true for all similar polygons, not just triangles.
They are always similar. Since they have the sides all the same length
they must always be in the same proportions, and their interior angles are always the same, and so are always similar.
The
apothems
and
radii
are in the same proportions as each other and the sides.
Things to try
In the figure at the top of the page, assume that we have proved that PQRS and LMNO are similar polygons.
Click on 'reset' and 'hide details'.
Drag the point R to resize PQRS to any new size.
Calculate the angles P and S, and the length of the side PS
Click 'show details' to check your answer.
To solve this you must first find out how much bigger/smaller PQRS is compared to LMNO. You can do this by finding the ratio
of say QR to MN.
More challenging:
Check 'reflect' in the options menu and repeat the above.
koobas.hobune.stream
