What does it mean for two shapes to be similar?

For two shapes to be similar means that they have the same shape but may differ in size. This relationship indicates that corresponding angles of the two shapes are equal, and the lengths of corresponding sides are in proportion. Similar shapes can be scaled versions of each other; for instance, one shape can be a larger or smaller version of the other while maintaining the same geometric properties and angles. This concept is central in geometry, particularly when studying transformations, as it highlights the relationship between figures that are not identical in size but maintain proportional characteristics.

The other options do not accurately describe similarity:

• Identical size and shape represent congruence rather than similarity.

• Having the same area does not imply that the shapes are similar, as they could have different dimensions.

• Congruence specifically refers to shapes that are the same in both size and shape, which is distinct from the concept of similarity.