Question

Sometimes a dilation is an enlargement, and sometimes it is a reduction. Explain what types of numbers for scale factors causes each.

Answer 1

Sample Response: The dilation is an enlargement because the image, triangle A'B'C', is larger than the pre-image, triangle ABC.

Explanation:

Answer 2

If your scale factor has absolute value greater than 1, the dilation is an enlargement.
If your scale factor has abs value less than 1, the dilation is a reduction.
If the scale factor is equal to 1, the image is congruent to the preimage.

Hope this helps.