Loading Calculator...
Please wait a moment
Please wait a moment
Calculate scale factors between triangles or apply scale factors to create similar triangles
The side length in the original triangle
The corresponding side length in the scaled triangle
2
Multiplier
200%
Of original size
Enlargement
Transformation
A scale factor is a number that scales, or multiplies, a quantity. In geometry, it describes how much a figure is enlarged or reduced. When you apply a scale factor to all sides of a triangle, you create a similar triangle.
Divide any side of the scaled triangle by the corresponding side of the original triangle: Scale Factor = New Length ÷ Original Length
Multiply each side of the original triangle by the scale factor to get the dimensions of the scaled triangle: New Side = Original Side × Scale Factor
Area scales with the square of the scale factor. If the scale factor is 2, the area increases by 2² = 4 times.
Scale factor > 1: Enlargement. Scale factor < 1: Reduction. Scale factor = 1: No change.
A scale factor is the ratio between corresponding measurements of two similar figures. It tells you how many times larger or smaller one figure is compared to another.
Divide a length in the scaled figure by the corresponding length in the original figure. For example: if an original side is 5 and the scaled side is 15, the scale factor is 15 ÷ 5 = 3.
A scale factor of 2 means the scaled figure is twice as large as the original. Each dimension is multiplied by 2, making it an enlargement.
Yes! A scale factor less than 1 represents a reduction. For example, a scale factor of 0.5 means the scaled figure is half the size of the original.
Area changes by the square of the scale factor. If the scale factor is 3, the area increases by 3² = 9 times. If the scale factor is 0.5, the area decreases to (0.5)² = 0.25 times.
No! Angles remain the same when a triangle is scaled. Only the side lengths change. This is why scaled triangles are similar - they have the same angles.
They're essentially the same concept. Scale factor is typically expressed as a decimal or whole number (like 2 or 0.5), while ratio is expressed as a fraction or with a colon (like 2:1).
Scale factors are used in maps, architectural blueprints, scale models, photo resizing, and any application where you need to proportionally enlarge or reduce an object while maintaining its shape.
Find the ratio between similar triangles
Check if triangles are similar
Calculate missing sides using proportions
Find angles in similar triangles
Check triangle congruence