When you look at similar triangles, the way their sides compare helps you understand the size difference between them. Let’s break it down into simpler parts:

1. Scale Factor: This tells us how much bigger or smaller one shape is compared to another.

2. Corresponding Sides: Imagine triangle A has sides labeled $a$, $b$, and $c$. If triangle B has sides that are $ka$, $kb$, and $kc$, then the scale factor is $k$. This means triangle B is $k$ times the size of triangle A.

3. Ratio of Sides: The ratio of the sides that match up is always equal to the scale factor. It looks like this: $\frac{a}{ka} = \frac{1}{k}$

In short, this shows a clear and simple way to figure things out between similar triangles!