A dilation can be an enlargement, a reduction, or the same size as the preimage. Which type of dilation it is depends on the value of the scale factor k.
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Preimage & & Image [0.5em]
(x,y)& ⇒ & ( kx, ky)
Now, let's find the coordinates of the vertices of MNP after a dilation with a scale factor k= 3.
Dilation With Scale Factor k=3
Preimage
Multiply by k
Image
M(2,3)
( 3(2), 3(3))
M'(6,9)
N(5,3)
( 3(5), 3(3))
N'(15,9)
P(5,1)
( 3(5), 3(1))
P'(15,3 )
We can now plot the obtained points and connect them with segments to draw the image.
Since the scale factor k is greater than 1, the dilation is an enlargement.
Checking Our Answer
To check our answer, we can draw rays from the origin through the vertices of the original figure. The vertices of the dilation should lie on those rays.
