Scale Factor and Dilations

Front

What is the definition of Scale Factor?

Back

The scale factor is a number that scales, or multiplies, a quantity. It is the ratio of the length of a side of a scaled figure to the length of the corresponding side of the original figure.

Front

What does Dilation mean in geometry?

Back

Dilation means to enlarge or reduce a figure by a scale factor.

Front

If a figure is dilated by a scale factor of 2, what happens to its size?

Back

The figure is enlarged to twice its original size.

Front

If a figure is dilated by a scale factor of 1/3, what happens to its size?

Back

The figure is reduced to one-third of its original size.

Front

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

Back

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

Front

What is the scale factor if a rectangle's length is doubled?

Back

The scale factor is 2.

Front

What is the scale factor if a triangle's height is reduced to half?

Back

The scale factor is 1/2.

Front

How do you determine if two figures are similar?

Back

Two figures are similar if their corresponding angles are equal and the lengths of their corresponding sides are proportional.

Front

What is the effect of a scale factor of 1 on a figure?

Back

A scale factor of 1 means the figure remains the same size.

Front

If a rectangle has a width of 4 and is dilated by a scale factor of 3, what is the new width?

Back

The new width is 12.