A length scale factor is the factor by which lengths in a shape are enlarged or reduced. If the scale factor is 2 then both horizontal and vertical lengths are doubled. If the scale factor is n then both horizontal and vertical lengths are multiplied by n. This applet shows that diagonal lengths are also increased or decreased by multiplying by the same factor.
Real scale factors are always the factor by which a length increases, though sometimes I slip and call the factor by which the area changes an area scale factor. If a scale factor does not say it is a change factor for area, then it is assumed to be a scale factor for length.
Verify the scale factor formulas: A'B'=(Scale Factor)x(AB) A'C'=(Scale Factor)x(AC) by multiplying that the scale factor by the original length for both AB and AC, and for several scale factors. |