Big Ideas Math Geometry, 2014
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Big Ideas Math Geometry, 2014 View details
6. Similarity and Transformations
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Exercise 22 Page 220

You can calculate the midpoint between two segments by using the Midpoint Formula.

Yes, they are similar.

Practice makes perfect
The midpoint of RQ and QS are quite easy to spot as (1,3) and (4,1). To find the midpoint of RS, we can use the Midpoint Formula.
M_(RS)(x_1+x_2/2,y_1+y_2/2)
M_(RS)(1+ 7/2,5+ 1/2)
M_(RS)(8/2,6/2)
M_(RS)(4,3)
Now we can draw △ Q'R'S'

Notice that ∠ R'S'Q' is a right angle. Therefore, if these triangles are similar, then R'Q' and RS must be corresponding sides as they are both hypotenuse in their respective triangles.

Orientation

To make sure the triangles have the same orientation, we can rotate △ R'S'Q' by 180^(∘) about point S'.

Position

Since R'' and S are corresponding vertices we can, by translating △ Q''S''R'' 2 units down, map these vertices onto each other. To make the graph a bit clearer, we will remove the red triangle between the midpoints of △ RQS.

Dilation

To map △ Q'''S'''R''' onto △ RQS we have to dilate this triangle by some scale factor. To understand what scale factor we should use, we have to measure the length of two corresponding sides such R'''S''' and SQ. To make the graph a bit clearer, we will remove the green triangle.

The length of S'''R''' is 3 units and the corresponding side SQ is 6 units. This means we have to use a scale factor of 63=2 when we dilate. Notice that we will dilate △ Q'''S'''R''' using R''' as center of dilation.

Since we can map △ QRS onto △ R'Q'S' we know these triangles are similar.