Proving that Two Equilateral Triangles are Always Similar
Equilateral triangles are those triangles that have all sides of equal length and all angles of 60 degrees. Now, we need to prove that any two equilateral triangles are always similar to each other.
Definition of Similarity
Two figures are said to be similar if their corresponding angles are equal, and their corresponding sides are in proportion.
Proving Similarity of Equilateral Triangles
Let's take two equilateral triangles, ABC and XYZ, such that AB = XY, BC = YZ, and AC = XZ.
Corresponding Angles
- Angle A = Angle X (60 degrees)
- Angle B = Angle Y (60 degrees)
- Angle C = Angle Z (60 degrees)
Therefore, corresponding angles of both triangles are equal.
Corresponding Sides
- AB = XY (given)
- BC = YZ (given)
- AC = XZ (given)
We know that all sides of both triangles are equal since they are equilateral triangles. Therefore, corresponding sides are also in proportion, i.e., AB/XY = BC/YZ = AC/XZ.
Thus, we have proved that two equilateral triangles are always similar.