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| Math Central | Quandaries & Queries |
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Question from Sandra, a parent: A rectangle with the dimensions of 6.3 cm and 5.8 cm is reduced by a scale factor of 1/3. What are the dimensions of the new image? |
Hi Sandra,
I read this to say that the lengths of the sides are reduced by a scale factor of 1/3. One of the sides has length 6.3 cm and one third of 6.3 is $\frac13 \times 6.3 = 2.1$ cm. Thus the length of the new rectangle is 6.3 - 2.1 - 4.2 cm.
You can do this in one step. If you reduce the length by one third you are left with two thirds and $\frac23 \times 6.3 = 4.2.$
What about the other side?
Penny
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