Final answer:
To determine the scale factor of a dilation from Triangle RST to Triangle R'S'T, compare the lengths of corresponding sides and calculate the ratio. Measure accurately using a ruler if necessary. The scale factor is the ratio obtained by dividing a side of Triangle R'S'T by the corresponding side of RST.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the scale factor of the dilation from Triangle RST to Triangle R'S'T, you compare the lengths of corresponding sides of the two figures. If you know the measurements of both triangles, you could set up a ratio, for instance, comparing the length of side R'S' to the length of side RS. The scale factor is the ratio that reflects how much a dimension of the dilated figure has been increased or decreased relative to the original figure.
A common strategy to find the scale factor if the triangle dimensions are not given would be to measure the sides using a ruler. This is a direct and efficient approach when dealing with physical models or diagrams. For example, if side R'S' measures 6 inches and side RS measures 4 inches, the scale factor would be calculated by the ratio 6/4, which simplifies to 1.5, meaning the triangle has been enlarged by a factor of 1.5.
It's important to ensure that measurements are taken accurately and that the sides compared are indeed corresponding sides of the dilated and original figures. If dealing with a problem on paper, precision in measurement is key to obtaining an accurate scale factor.