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 that mean?

Back

It means that the dimensions of the new shape are twice as large as the dimensions of the original shape.

Front

If Triangle ABC has sides of length 3, 4, and 5, and Triangle DEF has sides of length 6, 8, and 10, what is the scale factor from ABC to DEF?

Back

The scale factor is 2.

Front

What is the scale factor from square A to square B if the side length of square A is 5 and the side length of square B is 10?

Back

The scale factor is 2.

Front

If a shape is enlarged by a scale factor of 1/2, what happens to its size?

Back

The shape is reduced to half its original size.

Front

What is the relationship between the areas of two similar shapes if the scale factor is k?

Back

The area of the larger shape is k² times the area of the smaller shape.

Front

If the scale factor from a small triangle to a large triangle is 3, what is the ratio of their perimeters?

Back

The ratio of their perimeters is also 3.

Front

What does it mean if two shapes are similar?

Back

Two shapes are similar if they have the same shape but different sizes, and their corresponding angles are equal while their corresponding sides are in proportion.

Front

If the scale factor from a small rectangle to a large rectangle is 4, what is the scale factor for the lengths of the sides?

Back

The scale factor for the lengths of the sides is 4.