A line segment with endpoints Q(-6,9)and Q(12,-3) is dilated with the origin as the center of dilation. The resulting endpoints are Q'(-2,3) and R'(4,-1). What is the scale factor?

Question

A line segment with endpoints  Q(-6,9)and Q(12,-3) is dilated with the origin as the center of dilation. The resulting endpoints are Q'(-2,3)  and R'(4,-1). What is the scale factor?

hero · Answer

Do we really need the distance formula to figure this out?

anonymous · Answer

no .... this one is extra credit .

anonymous · Answer

so i have no notes

hero · Answer

What if we divided every coordinate in Q by 3?

hero · Answer

Then we could probably say what the scale factor is

hero · Answer

Which is much easier than plotting anything or using distance formulas

hero · Answer

The scale factor is not three, but rather its inverse is.

hero · Answer

Yeah, I'm trying my best. I haven't given the answer, but I've given a hint as to what it is.

hero · Answer

A huge one

anonymous · Answer

so by x3 in Q i got ... Q(-18,27)  Q(36,-9)

hero · Answer

Dividing by 3 is not the same as multiplying by 3

anonymous · Answer

woops i read it wrong !

anonymous · Answer

one sec

anonymous · Answer

(-2,3) ( 4,-1)

hero · Answer

@amberose10, you're making me look bad again. But you quickly recovered.

hero · Answer

I try my best to make the explanations simple for you.

anonymous · Answer

ok ok

hero · Answer

Okay, now the only thing you have to remember is that the scale factor is not three, but rather its inverse. Do you know how to find the "inverse" of 3?

hero · Answer

Okay, well since 3 is the same as 3/1, what the inverse of 3/1? All you have to do is flip the fraction.

anonymous · Answer

1/3

hero · Answer

Yes, that's the scale factor.

anonymous · Answer

that wasnt hard !

hero · Answer

Just remember that dividing by 3 means the same as multiplying by 1/3

hero · Answer

Nope, it wasn't. But @campbell_st was about to make it much harder than what it was. I had to save you from that.