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(1b) What is the scale factor?

Ask by Montgomery Osborne. in the United States
Mar 21,2025

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Answer

The scale factor is the ratio of the lengths of corresponding sides of two similar figures. It shows how much larger or smaller the scaled figure is compared to the original. To find it, divide the length of a side of the scaled figure by the length of the corresponding side of the original figure.

Solution

The scale factor is the ratio of the corresponding sides of two similar figures. It is used to determine the size of a scaled figure compared to the original figure.
If you have the original figure and the scaled figure, you can calculate the scale factor by dividing the length of a side of the scaled figure by the length of the corresponding side of the original figure.
For example, if the original figure has a side length of 5 units and the scaled figure has a side length of 10 units, the scale factor would be 10/5 = 2.
Is there anything specific you would like to know about the scale factor or would you like to calculate it for a specific set of figures?

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The scale factor is a number that describes how much a shape has been enlarged or reduced in size compared to another shape. For example, if a triangle has been increased in size so that its sides are twice as long, the scale factor is 2. If it is reduced to half its original size, the scale factor is 1/2. Understanding scale factors is essential in fields like architecture and design, where precise measurements are crucial.
When dealing with scale factors, it’s important to watch out for common mistakes! A frequent error occurs when people forget to apply the scale factor uniformly to all dimensions of a shape. Let’s say you scale a rectangle by a factor of 3; you need to multiply both the length and the width by 3 to maintain proportionality. Always remember: consistency is key!

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