What is a Dilation?

What is a Dilation?

Note:

When someone's eyes dilate, their pupils get bigger or smaller, but they always stay the same shape. Dilation in math is very similar. When you dilate a figure, you change the size of the figure without changing its shape. This tutorial introduces you to dilation. Take a look!

Keywords:

  • Dilation
  • Change Size
  • Larger
  • Smaller
  • Shrink
  • Enlarge
  • Definition

Background Tutorials

  • Understand a multiple of a/b as a multiple of 1/b, and use this understanding to multiply a fraction by a whole number.

  • Understand the concept of a ratio and use ratio language to describe a ratio relationship between two quantities.

      • What's a Ratio?What's a Ratio?

      What's a Ratio?

      Ratios are everywhere! The scale on a map or blueprint is a ratio. Ingredients sometimes need to be mixed using ratios such as the ratio of water to cement mix when making cement. Watch this tutorial to learn about ratios. Then think of some ratios you've encountered before!

  • Interpret statements of inequality as statements about the relative position of two numbers on a number line diagram.

      • What's an Inequality?What's an Inequality?

      What's an Inequality?

      Inequalities come up all the time when you're working algebra problems. In this tutorial you'll learn what an inequality is, and you'll see all the common inequality symbols that you're likely to see :)

  • Lines are taken to lines, and line segments to line segments of the same length.

      • What is a Transformation?What is a Transformation?

      What is a Transformation?

      Transformations can be really fun! They allow you to change or move a figure. In this tutorial, learn about all the different kinds of transformations!

  • Represent transformations in the plane using, e.g., transparencies and geometry software; describe transformations as functions that take points in the plane as inputs and give other points as outputs. Compare transformations that preserve distance and angle to those that do not (e.g., translation versus horizontal stretch).

      • What is an Image?What is an Image?

      What is an Image?

      Just about everything in math has a name! Did you know that when you're dealing with transformations, the new figure you get is called an image? Check out this tutorial and learn about this math term!

Further Exploration

  • Describe the effect of dilations, translations, rotations, and reflections on two-dimensional figures using coordinates.