Scale Factor
(KS3, Year 7)
Dictionary Definition
The Oxford English Dictionary defines a scale factor as "a numerical factor by which each of a set of quantities is multiplied."Understanding a Scale Factor
When a shape is enlarged, the length of each side becomes larger (or smaller). Each side becomes larger (or smaller) by same amount. The length of each side is multiplied by a scale factor.A Real Example of a Scale Factor
A scale factor is easier to understand with an example. The image below shows a light blue shape being enlarged to a dark blue shape.The scale factor is 2. Each side of the dark blue shape is 2 × longer than the corresponding side of the light blue shape.Types of Scale Factors
Scale factors have different effects depending on how large the number is.Scale Factor | Description | |
---|---|---|
Greater than 1 | The shape gets larger | |
Equal to 1 | The shape stays the same size | |
Greater than 0, less than 1 | The shape gets smaller | |
Negative | The shape is on the other side of the center of enlargement, and is the other way around |
What Is an Enlargement?
An enlargement resizes a shape. An enlargement makes a shape larger or smaller. An enlargement is a type of transformation.Scaling Lengths, Areas and Volumes
If a scale factor is k:- Each length on the image will be k times the length of the object.
- The area of the image will be k2 times the area of the object.
- The volume of the image will be k3 times the volume of the object.
Worksheet
This test is printable and sendable