Question

An equilateral triangle is dilated by a scale factor of 3. If a side of the original triangle is 6, what is the measure of a side of the new triangle?

Answer 1

Answer: 18 units.

Explanation:

• When a segment 'm' is dilated by a scale factor 'k' , then the measure of new dilated segment will be 'km' [i.e. New side length =scale factor is multiplied to the original side-length].

Given : An equilateral triangle is dilated by a scale factor of 3.

[Note an equilateral triangle has all its side-lengths are equal.]

Side-length of the original triangle = 6 units

Then, the measure of a side of the new triangle = Scale factor x Original side-length

= 3 x 6 = 18 units

Hence, the measure of a side of the new triangle = 18 units.

Answer 2

18

Explanation:

Let the side of the triangle be a and that of the new one be a'.

a'/a = 3/1 Insert the value of a

a'/6 = 3 Multiply each side by 6

a' = 18

The measure of a side of the new triangle is 18.