IXL | Dilations: find the scale factor

The trapezoid

is a dilation of the trapezoid

What is the scale factor of the dilation?

Simplify your answer and write it as a proper fraction, an improper fraction, or a whole number.

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Learn with an example

question

The triangle

is a dilation of the triangle

What is the scale factor of the dilation?

Simplify your answer and write it as a proper fraction, an improper fraction, or a whole number.

key idea

The scale factor of a dilation is the ratio of lengths in the image after the dilation to the corresponding lengths in the original figure. It tells you how much the dilation enlarges or reduces the figure.

solution

To find the scale factor, first find the length of one side in the original triangle. For example, you can find the length of

connects

(

–

)

and

(

–

)

It is 4 units long.

Now, find the length of the corresponding side in the image,

connects

(

–

)

and

(

–

)

It is 12 units long.

Next, write the ratio of the length in the image to the length in the original triangle.

Last, simplify the fraction.

The scale factor is 3.

Looking for more? Try these:

Lesson: Dilations

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Teacher tools

Work it out

Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

S.2Dilations: graph the image

S.21Scale drawings: word problems

M.4Distance between two points

Lesson: Dilations

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