Question

the rectangle on the right is a scaled copy of the rectangle on the left. identify the scale factor. express your answer as a whole number or fraction in simplest form.

Explanation:

Step1: Recall the formula for scale factor

Scale factor \(=\frac{\text{length of corresponding side in scaled copy}}{\text{length of corresponding side in original}}\)

Step2: Choose a pair of corresponding sides

Let's use the side of length \(5\) (original) and \(\frac{5}{2}\) (scaled copy).
Scale factor \(=\frac{\frac{5}{2}}{5}\)

Step3: Simplify the fraction

\(\frac{\frac{5}{2}}{5}=\frac{5}{2}\times\frac{1}{5}=\frac{1}{2}\)

Answer:

\(\frac{1}{2}\)