ENLARGEMENT AND REDUCTION

Enlargement and Reduction

Enlargement (E) and reduction transformations change the size of the object. With enlargement, the size of the
image is larger than the object, while for reduction the image is smaller.  A scale factor k is used to describe the size
of the transformation.  For any enlargement or reduction, there must be a point called the centre of enlargement.
This centre may be a point on the object or a point located elsewhere.
 
Properties of Enlargement (or Reduction)
1. The shape of the object and the image are the same.
2. The size of the object and image are different.
3. Corresponding angles are the same.
4. The image is similar to the object.
 
Describing an Enlargement (or Reduction)
To describe an enlargement, you must state
1. The centre of enlargement
2. The scale factor
Examples of enlargement and reduction are shown in the diagrams below.

Scale Factor, k

If CO is the distance from the centre of enlargement to the object, and CI is the distance from the centre of
enlargement to its image, the following equation applies:
CI = k  x  CO
The number of the scale factor tells if the shape (object) is to be made bigger or smaller while the sign of the
number tells which side the object and the image are relative to the centre of enlargement.
 
1. If k > 1: the image is an enlargement of the object and the following are true:
a) All the image lengths are greater than the matching object lengths.
b) The image is on the same side of the centre of enlargement as the object but behind the object.
c) Each length on the object is multiplied by 
2. If 0 < k < 1: the image is a reduction of the object and the following are true:
a) Each length on the image is a fraction of the matching length on the object.
b) The image is on the same side of the centre of enlargement as the object but behind the object.
c) Each length on the object is multiplied by k.
3.  If  k < 0: the following are true:
a) The image is inverted (upside down)
b) The image and the object are on opposite sides of the centre of enlargement.
c) Each length on the object is multiplied by k to get the image length but the length is measured in the opposite
direction.

Constructing an Enlargement (or Reduction)

You may be given the object and the enlargement to find the image. To do this follow the steps outlined:
1. Mark the centre of enlargement, e.g. C or O.
2. Plot the points of the object and complete its shape.
3. Draw a straight line from C to each point in the object and measure the length of each line drawn.
4. Multiply each length by the scale factor to get the length of the image from C.
5. Mark each image length by a point and connect the points to complete the shape of the image.

Example 1: Consider the triangle ABC with vertices A (1, 1), B (4, 1) and C (1, 4). With the origin (0, 0) as the
centre of enlargement and a scale factor of 2, find the image of triangle ABC. 

The scale factor 2 indicates that the image will be twice as large as the object and being positive, the object and the
image are on the same side of the centre of enlargement.
Following the steps outlined above, the result is shown on the graph.

Apart from finding the image, you can also be asked to find the centre of enlargement and the scale factor.

TRANSFORMATION MATRIX FOR ENLARGEMENT/REDUCTION USING THE CENTRE AS THE ORIGIN IS

GIVEN BY :

(0k 0k ) , where ‘k’ is the scale factor .

 Finding the Centre of Enlargement
To find the centre of enlargement, join matching image and object points with straight lines. The point of intersection
of the lines is the centre of enlargement.