Enlargement

This refers to shapes that are the same except for their size.

The diagram below shows enlargement.

It is important when describing enlargements, to say how much the shape has been enlarged by. We use ‘scale factor’ to do so. For example, if the side-lengths of the original shape enlarged three times then the scale factor is 3.

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The centre of enlargement is the position of the enlarged shape.

To draw an enlarged shape:

  • Draw lines from the centre of enlargement, through each point of the shape.
  • Depending on the scale factor, multiply the lengths of the sides by the scale factor.
  • Draw the enlarged shape.

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