Key idea: Areas of similar triangles
**Theorem**: The ratio of the areas of two similar triangles is equal to the SQUARE of the ratio of their corresponding sides.
If ΔABC ~ ΔDEF with scale factor k=AB/DE, then
Area(ABC)/Area(DEF) = k2=(AB/DE)2.
**Why**: area scales as length × length. If both length and breadth scale by k, area scales by k2.
**Example**: Two similar triangles have corresponding sides in ratio 3:5. Area ratio = 9:25.
**Reverse**: if areas are in ratio 16:25, sides are in ratio 4:5 (square root).