Question

Point A(7,-35) is dilated to A'(1,-5). What is the scale factor and is this a reduction or and enlargement?

Answer 1

Let k be the scale factor.

After dilating A(7,-35) by the scale factor k, its new coordinates are:

`A^(\prime)(7k,-35k)`

On the other hand, the coordinates of A' are given:

`A^(\prime)(1,-5)`

Each coordinate has to be the same in both expressions for A'. then:

`\begin{gathered} 7k=1 \\ \Rightarrow k=(1)/(7) \end{gathered}`

Therefore, the scale factor is 1/7.

Since 1/7 < 1, then it is a reduction.