Use the image to answer the question.

A coordinate plane with four quadrants shows an x axis capped with arrows and ranging from negative 11 to 10 in 1 unit increments and a y axis capped with arrows and ranging from 12 to negative 12 in 1 unit increments. Points upper A, upper B, upper A prime, and upper B prime are plotted. A coordinate plane with four quadrants shows an x axis capped with arrows and ranging from negative 11 to 10 in 1 unit increments and a y axis capped with arrows and ranging from 12 to negative 12 in 1 unit increments. Point upper A is plotted as left parenthesis negative 3 comma 4 right parenthesis and point upper B is plotted as left parenthesis 2 comma negative 4 right parenthesis. The points are joined by a line that extends beyond the points and is capped with arrows at both ends. Point upper A prime is plotted as left parenthesis negative 6 comma 8 right parenthesis and point upper B prime is plotted as left parenthesis 4 comma negative 8 right parenthesis. The points are joined by a line that extends beyond the points and is capped with arrows at both ends.

Determine the scale factor used in the dilation of line AB
A
B
, with a center point of dilation at the origin.

1 answer

To find the scale factor used in the dilation of line segment \( AB \) to line segment \( A'B' \), we can use the coordinates of points \( A \), \( B \), \( A' \), and \( B' \).

  1. Identify the coordinates:

    • Point \( A (-3, 4) \)
    • Point \( B (2, -4) \)
    • Point \( A' (-6, 8) \)
    • Point \( B' (4, -8) \)
  2. Calculate the distances from the origin for points \( A \) and \( A' \):

    • Distance to \( A \): \[ d_A = \sqrt{(-3)^2 + (4)^2} = \sqrt{9 + 16} = \sqrt{25} = 5 \]
    • Distance to \( A' \): \[ d_{A'} = \sqrt{(-6)^2 + (8)^2} = \sqrt{36 + 64} = \sqrt{100} = 10 \]
  3. Calculate the distances from the origin for points \( B \) and \( B' \):

    • Distance to \( B \): \[ d_B = \sqrt{(2)^2 + (-4)^2} = \sqrt{4 + 16} = \sqrt{20} = 2\sqrt{5} \]
    • Distance to \( B' \): \[ d_{B'} = \sqrt{(4)^2 + (-8)^2} = \sqrt{16 + 64} = \sqrt{80} = 4\sqrt{5} \]
  4. Determine the scale factor:

    • From \( A \) to \( A' \): \[ \text{Scale Factor} = \frac{d_{A'}}{d_A} = \frac{10}{5} = 2 \]
    • From \( B \) to \( B' \): \[ \text{Scale Factor} = \frac{d_{B'}}{d_B} = \frac{4\sqrt{5}}{2\sqrt{5}} = 2 \]

Both scale factors are equal, confirming that the same scale factor was used for the dilation.

Therefore, the scale factor used in the dilation of line segment \( AB \) to line segment \( A'B' \) is \( \boxed{2} \).