Final answer:
Applying a scale factor of -4 will invert the image and increase its dimensions by a factor of 4. This geometrical transformation results in a larger and flipped image.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a scale factor of -4 is applied to an original pre-image, the copy image will be inverted and increase in size by a factor of 4. This is because a negative scale factor not only scales the object in size but also mirrors it across the origin. If you were to look at a proportion formula like 1:2 = 4:x, you could determine the actual dimension of an object after scaling. However, with the negative scale factor, it's important to consider the direction as well as the magnitude of change.
For instance, a side length of an original square that is 2 inches long would become 8 inches long after applying a negative scale factor of -4. A negative sign in the scale factor implies that in addition to becoming 4 times larger, the image will also be flipped relative to the origin point.