Dilations and Scale Factor

Front

What is a dilation in geometry?

Back

A dilation is a transformation that alters the size of a figure but not its shape, using a scale factor.

Front

What is a scale factor?

Back

The scale factor is a number that describes how much a figure is enlarged or reduced during a dilation.

Front

If the scale factor is greater than 1, what type of dilation is it?

Back

It is an enlargement.

Front

If the scale factor is less than 1, what type of dilation is it?

Back

It is a reduction.

Front

What happens to the dimensions of a shape during a dilation with a scale factor of 2?

Back

The dimensions of the shape are doubled.

Front

What happens to the dimensions of a shape during a dilation with a scale factor of 1/2?

Back

The dimensions of the shape are halved.

Front

How do you find the scale factor between two similar figures?

Back

Divide the length of a side of the image by the corresponding length of the original figure.

Front

What is the scale factor if the original figure has a side length of 6 and the dilated figure has a side length of 2?

Back

The scale factor is 1/3.

Front

What is the effect of a dilation on angles?

Back

Dilation does not change the measures of angles; they remain the same.

Front

If triangle ABC is dilated to triangle A'B'C' with a scale factor of 3, what can you say about the sides of the triangles?

Back

The sides of triangle A'B'C' are three times longer than the corresponding sides of triangle ABC.