What is an area change factor?

An area change factor is the factor by which areas in a shape are enlarged or reduced. If the area change factor is 2 then the area is doubled. If the area change factor is n, then the area is multiplied by n. The area change factor is not the same as the length scale factor, and this number does not tell how much the lengths are increased or decreased by.

Area change factors are part of a general idea (you can have a change factor for any measurable attribute). If a scale factor does not say whether it is a scale factor for length or area, then it is assumed to be a scale factor for length, not area.

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Verify that the area change factor formula works:

(Original Area)x(Area Change Factor) = New Area

by multiplying for several different change factors

 

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