Question

Triangle D has been dilated to create triangle D′. Use the image to answer the question.

image of a triangle labeled D with side lengths of 3.8, 4.8, 4.2 and a second triangle labeled D prime with side lengths of x, 2.4, 2.1

Determine the scale factor used.

one half
2
one fourth
3

Answer 1

To determine the scale factor used, we need to find the ratio of corresponding side lengths in both triangles.

Let's compare the length of the first side in both triangles:

x/3.8 = 2/4.8

Cross-multiplying, we get:

4.8x = 7.6

Dividing both sides by 4.8, we get:

x = 1.58

Now, let's compare the length of the second side in both triangles:

2.4/4.2 = 0.57

Finally, let's compare the length of the third side in both triangles:

2.1/4.8 = 0.44

Since the scale factor is the same for all corresponding side lengths, we can take the average of the ratios:

(scale factor) = (1.58/3.8 + 0.57 + 0.44)/3

(scale factor) = 1.01

Therefore, the scale factor used is approximately 1.

Answer 2

The scale factor used to dilate triangle D to triangle D' is 1/2.

To see this, notice that the side lengths of triangle D' are half the length of the corresponding sides in triangle D. For example, the length of the shortest side in triangle D is 3.8, while the length of the shortest side in triangle D' is x. Since the length of the shortest side in triangle D' is half the length of the shortest side in triangle D, the scale factor is 1/2.