4.6.9

Scale Factor & Enlargement

Test yourself

Scale Factor and Enlargement

When a shape is enlarged, its lengths are all multiplied by S.

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Area

  • When a 2D shape is enlarged by a scale factor S, because all the lengths are multiplied by S, its area will be multiplied by S2.
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Volume

  • When a 3D shape is enlarged by a scale factor S all the lengths are multiplied by S.
  • The areas in the shape will be multiplied by S2 and the volumes will be multiplied by S3.
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Example

  • A cube of side length 1cm is enlarged by scale factor 2.
  • Its initial surface area was 6cm2 and its initial volume was 1cm3.
  • After enlargement each edge is now 2cm long.
  • Its surface area is now 6 × 4cm2 = 24cm2 which is 4 times as large as before.
  • Its volume is now 23cm3 = 8cm3 which is 8 times as large as before.

Jump to other topics

1Number

1.1Using Numbers

1.2Fractions, Decimals & Percentages

1.3Powers & Roots

1.4Accuracy

2Algebra

2.1Introduction to Algebra

2.2Manipulating Algebra

2.3Proofs & Functions

2.4Straight Line Graphs

2.5Common Graphs

2.6Transformations & Tangents

2.7Properties of Graphs

2.8Solving Equations

2.9Inequalities

2.10Sequences

3Ratio

4Geometry

4.1Introduction to Geometry

4.2Triangles & Quadrilaterals

4.3Transformations

4.4Circle Basics

4.5Circle Theorems

4.6Measurements & Units

4.7Calculating Area

4.8Triangle Formulae

4.93D Shapes

4.10Vectors

5Probability

6Statistics

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