Final answer:
An enlargement in mathematics refers to an increase in the size of an object, maintaining its proportional shape. Enlargement involves magnification and the concept of scale, where a scale drawing represents a real object with accurate proportions at a different size.
Step-by-step explanation:
An enlargement of an object in mathematics refers to an increase in the size of that object while keeping its shape proportional. It is essentially a transformation resulting in a larger version of the original figure. To determine an enlargement, we often refer to the concept of magnification, which involves comparing the dimensions of the enlarged image to those of the original object. For example, if the height of an image is twice that of the original object, we would say the magnification is 2. Another important concept related to enlargement is the scale, which is a ratio that describes how the dimensions of a model or drawing correspond to the real-life dimensions of the object it represents.
Sometimes, enlargement is misunderstood as a change in scale drawing. However, a scale drawing represents a real object with accurate proportions, but at a reduced or enlarged size, depending on the scale used. For instance, common scales might be 1 inch representing 1 foot or 1 centimeter representing 1 meter in real life. These drawings allow for accurate representations of large or small objects on paper that would otherwise be impractical to draw at their actual size.