Scale Factor

Front

What is the scale factor?

Back

The scale factor is a number that describes how much a figure is enlarged or reduced compared to another figure.

Front

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

Back

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

Front

If the scale factor is 3, what does that mean?

Back

It means that the dimensions of the new figure are three times larger than the dimensions of the original figure.

Front

If the scale factor is 1/2, what does that indicate?

Back

It indicates that the new figure is half the size of the original figure.

Front

What is a scaled copy?

Back

A scaled copy is a figure that has been enlarged or reduced in size but maintains the same shape and proportions as the original figure.

Front

If square A has a side length of 6 and square B has a side length of 18, what is the scale factor from A to B?

Back

The scale factor is 3.

Front

If triangle ABC is similar to triangle DEF and the scale factor is 2, what can you say about their corresponding sides?

Back

The corresponding sides of triangle DEF are twice the length of the corresponding sides of triangle ABC.

Front

What does it mean if two figures are not similar?

Back

It means that the figures do not have the same shape or proportions, and therefore cannot be related by a scale factor.

Front

If the scale factor from a small shape to a big shape is 2, what is the relationship between their areas?

Back

The area of the larger shape is 4 times the area of the smaller shape, since area scales by the square of the scale factor.

Front

How can you determine if Figure B is a scaled copy of Figure A?

Back

You can determine this by checking if the corresponding angles are equal and the sides are in proportion.