Scale Factor

Front

What is a scale factor?

Back

A scale factor is a number that scales, or multiplies, some quantity. It is used to determine how much larger or smaller a figure is compared to another figure.

Front

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

Back

To find the scale factor, divide the length of a side of the larger shape by the length of the corresponding side of the smaller shape.

Front

If the scale factor is 2, what does this mean?

Back

It means that the dimensions of the larger shape are twice as long as the dimensions of the smaller shape.

Front

If the scale factor is 1/2, how does the size of the smaller shape compare to the larger shape?

Back

The smaller shape is half the size of the larger shape.

Front

What is the scale factor from a triangle with sides 3, 4, 5 to a triangle with sides 6, 8, 10?

Back

The scale factor is 2.

Front

If a triangle has a scale factor of 4/3, what can you say about its sides compared to a smaller triangle?

Back

The sides of the larger triangle are 4/3 times the length of the corresponding sides of the smaller triangle.

Front

What is the similarity statement for two triangles with corresponding angles equal?

Back

The similarity statement is written as ΔABC~ΔDEF, indicating that triangle ABC is similar to triangle DEF.

Front

If the sides of a triangle are in the ratio 2:3, what is the scale factor from the smaller triangle to the larger triangle?

Back

The scale factor is 3/2.

Front

How do you determine the missing side length in similar triangles?

Back

Use the scale factor to set up a proportion between the corresponding sides of the triangles.

Front

If the scale factor from triangle A to triangle B is 3, and the side of triangle A is 5, what is the corresponding side in triangle B?

Back

The corresponding side in triangle B is 15.