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Dilate A(2, 4) B(6, 4) C(2, 8) by scale factor 1/2

Step by step, with the reason for every step · Dilations about the origin · Geometry

Step by step

The question

Question: dilate the shape A(2, 4), B(6, 4) and C(2, 8) by scale factor ½.

A(2, 4), B(6, 4) and C(2, 8)
= scale factor 12

1 Draw the shape

Put the points on the grid and join them.

2 Multiply each point

Scale factor one half makes the shape half as big.

Every number is multiplied by one half.

scale factor ½ → half as big

We call the new point A prime.

The little mark means: the new A.

A is (2, 4).

Half of 2 is 1.

Half of 4 is 2.

So A' is (1, 2).

A(2, 4) → (12 × 2, 12 × 4) = A'(1, 2)

Careful!

Half as big means divide every number by 2.

Taking 2 away would slide the shape.

Careful: not A'(2 − 2, 4 − 2) ✗

B: half of 6 is 3, half of 4 is 2.

So B' is (3, 2).

B(6, 4) → (12 × 6, 12 × 4) = B'(3, 2)

C: half of 2 is 1, half of 8 is 4.

So C' is (1, 4).

C(2, 8) → (12 × 2, 12 × 8) = C'(1, 4)

3 Draw the image

Join the new points.

This new shape is called the image.

So the image is A'(1, 2), B'(3, 2) and C'(1, 4).

A'(1, 2), B'(3, 2) and C'(1, 4)

4 What changes

Count the flat side AB on the grid: 4 squares.

AB = 4

A'B' is 2 squares.

That is half as long.

Every length is multiplied by one half.

A'B' = 2 = 12 × 4

The angles do not change.

The image is the same shape, just smaller.

angles stay the same

5 Check

Let's check A.

Draw a line from O through A' to A.

From O to A: right 2, up 4.

O → A: right 2, up 4

From O to A': right 1, up 2.

That is half the moves to A.

So A' is on the same line from O, half as far.

Right!

O → A': right 1, up 2

Let's look back.

First: draw the shape.

Then: multiply each point.

Then: draw the image.

Then: what changes.

Last: check.

Answer
A'(1, 2), B'(3, 2) and C'(1, 4)

Your turn

Try this one yourself, then check:

A(4, 2) B(8, 2) C(4, 6): scale factor 12
Show the answer
A'(2, 1), B'(4, 1) and C'(2, 3)

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