1. What is Triangle Scale Factor?

The scale factor is the ratio of the lengths of corresponding sides of two similar triangles. It describes how much larger or smaller one triangle is compared to another.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the scale factor formula:

Where:

• New Side Length — Length of side in scaled triangle
• Original Side Length — Length of corresponding side in original triangle

Explanation: The scale factor is a dimensionless number that indicates the proportional relationship between two similar triangles.

3. Importance of Scale Factor

Details: The scale factor is crucial in geometry for understanding similarity, solving proportion problems, and performing dilations in coordinate geometry.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both side lengths in the same units. The calculator will determine how many times larger or smaller one triangle is compared to another.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a scale factor of 1 mean?
A: A scale factor of 1 means the triangles are congruent (exactly the same size).

Q2: What if the scale factor is less than 1?
A: A scale factor less than 1 means the new triangle is smaller than the original (a reduction).

Q3: How is scale factor related to area?
A: Area scales by the square of the scale factor. If scale factor is 2, area becomes 4 times larger.

Q4: Can scale factor be negative?
A: In pure geometry, scale factor is always positive. Negative values might be used in coordinate transformations to indicate reflections.

Q5: How does scale factor apply to 3D objects?
A: For 3D objects, volume scales by the cube of the scale factor. A scale factor of 3 means volume becomes 27 times larger.