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 the proportional relationship between two similar figures.

Front

If the scale factor is less than 1, what type of transformation occurs?

Back

Reduction.

Front

If the scale factor is greater than 1, what type of transformation occurs?

Back

Enlargement.

Front

What does it mean for two figures to be similar?

Back

Two figures are similar if they have the same shape but not necessarily the same size, and their corresponding angles are equal while their corresponding side lengths are proportional.

Front

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

Back

Divide the length of a side of one figure by the length of the corresponding side of the other figure.

Front

What is the scale factor if the original length is 10 units and the new length is 25 units?

Back

The scale factor is 2.5.

Front

What is the ratio of the side lengths of two similar triangles if one triangle has sides of 3 cm and the other has sides of 12 cm?

Back

The ratio is 1:4.

Front

In the similarity statement ΔABC ~ ΔDEF, what do the letters represent?

Back

The letters represent corresponding vertices of the similar triangles.

Front

What is the scale factor if a rectangle is enlarged from dimensions 4 cm by 6 cm to 8 cm by 12 cm?

Back

The scale factor is 2.

Front

If a triangle has a scale factor of 0.5, what happens to its area?

Back

The area is reduced by a factor of 0.5², or 0.25.