what is the scale factor of the dilation that transforms triangle PQR to P'Q'R'?

Question

luffingsails · Answer

Is there a picture along with this problem?

mathmate · Answer

The scale factor is the ratio lengths of segments P'Q'/PQ.
You can choose any other pair of corresponding segments.

Remember, the scale factor is the length of segment of image (P'Q') divided by the length of the corresponding segment of the preimage (original, before transformation).

Additional information:
If the image (transformed figure) is larger, absolute value of scale factor is greater than 1.
If the image is smaller, absolute value of scale factor is less than 1.
If the image is the same size, absolute value scale factor is 1.
(note: absolute value means ignoring the sign).
Finally, if the scale factor is negative, the image is a scaled rotation over 180 degrees.