Final answer:
The transformation (x, y) → (12x, 3a’y) can be compared to the standard similarity transformation to determine the value of a, which is 4.
Step-by-step explanation:
The given transformation is (x, y) → (12x, 3a’y). To determine the value of a, we need to compare the transformation with the standard similarity transformation, which is (x, y) → (kx, ky), where k is the scale factor.
Comparing the two transformations, we can equate the corresponding components:
12x = kx
3a’y = ky
Simplifying the equations, we get:
k = 12
3a’ = k
Substituting the value of k, we have:
3a’ = 12
a’ = 4
Therefore, the value of a is 4.