Question

Polygon ABCD is dilated by a certain scale factor with the origin as the center of dilation to form the image A'B'C'D'. If the length of AB and A'B' are 5.6 units and 2.24 units respectively, what is the value of the scale factor?

Answer 1

The ratio of two figures with the same shape is termed a scale factor. If given the measurement of two corresponding sides of the two shapes then calculating for the scale factor would be:

from ABCD to A'B'C'D' : y=Cx; y would be A'B' and x would be AB

2.24 = C*5.6

The unit of the scale factor from ABCD to A'B'C'D' is 0.4

from A'B'C'D' to ABCD : y=Cx; y would be AB and x would be A'B'

5.6= C*2.24

The unit of the scale factor is from A'B'C'D' to ABCD is 2.5.

Answer 2

A scale factor is the ratio of two similar geometric figures of their corresponding sides. The scale factor is calculated by locating the corresponding sides on each figure. The scale factor of the polygons given is calculated as follows:

k = 2.24 / 5.6 = 0.4