Steply

Dilate A(-4, 2) B(-2, 2) C(-2, 6) 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(−4, 2), B(−2, 2) and C(−2, 6) by scale factor ½.

A(−4, 2), B(−2, 2) and C(−2, 6)
= 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 (−4, 2).

Half of −4 is −2.

Half of 2 is 1.

So A' is (−2, 1).

A(−4, 2) → (12 × −4, 12 × 2) = A'(−2, 1)

Careful!

Half as big means divide every number by 2.

Taking 2 away would slide the shape.

Careful: not A'(−4 − 2, 2 − 2) ✗

B: half of −2 is −1, half of 2 is 1.

So B' is (−1, 1).

B(−2, 2) → (12 × −2, 12 × 2) = B'(−1, 1)

C: half of −2 is −1, half of 6 is 3.

So C' is (−1, 3).

C(−2, 6) → (12 × −2, 12 × 6) = C'(−1, 3)

3 Draw the image

Join the new points.

This new shape is called the image.

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

A'(−2, 1), B'(−1, 1) and C'(−1, 3)

4 What changes

Count the flat side AB on the grid: 2 squares.

AB = 2

A'B' is 1 squares.

That is half as long.

Every length is multiplied by one half.

A'B' = 1 = 12 × 2

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: left 4, up 2.

O → A: left 4, up 2

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

That is half the moves to A.

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

Right!

O → A': left 2, up 1

Let's look back.

First: draw the shape.

Then: multiply each point.

Then: draw the image.

Then: what changes.

Last: check.

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

Your turn

Try this one yourself, then check:

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

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