A transformation that increases or decreases the size of a figure is a key concept in geometry. This process, characterized by a central point and a scale factor, produces a similar figure. The resulting image maintains the same shape as the original object, but its dimensions are altered proportionally. For instance, if a triangle undergoes this transformation with a scale factor of 2, the lengths of all its sides will be doubled, resulting in a larger triangle with the same angles.
Understanding transformations is crucial for various applications in mathematics and other fields. It allows for the creation of scaled models, the manipulation of images in computer graphics, and the analysis of spatial relationships. Historically, the study of similar figures and their transformations has played a significant role in the development of geometric principles and their application to real-world problems like mapmaking and architectural design.