Question

how do you find the scale factor?

Answer 1

for a shape ?

Answer 2

a rectangle

Answer 3

if you start with a rectangle and "scale it", you get a new rectangle, the same shape, but a different size.

I would first find the length of 1 side of the first rectangle. Can you do that ?

Answer 4

measure it or it is already listed ?

Answer 5

I suppose it depends on the problem. Do you have a specific problem or are you asking "in general" ?

Answer 6

i have a problem the first length is 8 and the scaled one is 20

Answer 7

ok. then you have all the info you need. The idea is there is a number ("scale factor")
call it "k"
so that if you multiply the length of the first rectangle by k
i.e. k*8
you get the new triangles length 20

as an equation
8k= 20

to "solve for k" we divide both sides by 8
\[ \frac{8}{8} k = \frac{20}{8} \]
and simplify to get k

Answer 8

what do you get for k? i.e. what is 20/8 after you simplify it?

Answer 9

5/2

Answer 10

yes, or as a decimal 2.5

if this is multiple choice look for either 5/2 or 2.5

Answer 11

thank you so much!