Lesson 1What are Scaled Copies?

Learning Goal

Let’s explore scaled copies.

Learning Targets

  • I can describe some characteristics of a scaled copy.

  • I can tell whether or not a figure is a scaled copy of another figure.

Lesson Terms

  • scaled copy

Warm Up: Printing Portraits

Problem 1

Here is a portrait of a student. Move the slider under each image, A–E, to see it change.

  1. How is each one the same as or different from the original portrait of the student?

  2. Some of the sliders make scaled copies of the original portrait. Which ones do you think are scaled copies? Explain your reasoning.

  3. What do you think “scaled copy” means?

Print Version

Here is a portrait of a student.

A cartoon of a boy.
  1. Look at Portraits A–E. How is each one the same as or different from the original portrait of the student?

    5 images of the same cartoon, however, the dimensions have been altered for each image.
  2. Some of the Portraits A–E are scaled copies of the original portrait. Which ones do you think are scaled copies? Explain your reasoning.

  3. What do you think “scaled copy” means?

Activity 1: Scaling F

Problem 1

Here is an original drawing of the letter F and some other drawings.

The height of the original F is 4. The length of the top prong is 2. The lower prong is 1. The prongs are 2 units apart. The 6 other drawings of F each have different dimensions.
  1. Identify all the drawings that are scaled copies of the original letter F. Explain how you know.

  2. Examine all the scaled copies more closely, specifically the lengths of each part of the letter F. How do they compare to the original? What do you notice?

  3. On the grid, draw a different scaled copy of the original letter F.

Print Version

Here is an original drawing of the letter F and some other drawings.

The height of the original F is 4. The length of the top prong is 2. The lower prong is 1. The prongs are 2 units apart. The 6 other drawings of F each have different dimensions.
  1. Identify all the drawings that are scaled copies of the original letter F. Explain how you know.

  2. Examine all the scaled copies more closely, specifically the lengths of each part of the letter F. How do they compare to the original? What do you notice?

  3. On the grid, draw a different scaled copy of the original letter F.

    On a grid, original F with height of 4. The length of the top prong is 2. The lower prong is 1. The prongs are 2 units apart.

Activity 2: Pairs of Scaled Polygons

Problem 1

Your teacher will give you a set of cards that have polygons drawn on a grid. Mix up the cards and place them all face up.

  1. Take turns with your partner to match a pair of polygons that are scaled copies of one another.

    • For each match you find, explain to your partner how you know it’s a match.

    • For each match your partner finds, listen carefully to their explanation, and if you disagree, explain your thinking.

  2. When you agree on all of the matches, check your answers with the answer key. If there are any errors, discuss why and revise your matches.

  3. Select one pair of polygons to examine further. Use the grid below to produce both polygons. Explain or show how you know that one polygon is a scaled copy of the other.

Print Version

Your teacher will give you a set of cards that have polygons drawn on a grid. Mix up the cards and place them all face up.

  1. Take turns with your partner to match a pair of polygons that are scaled copies of one another.

    • For each match you find, explain to your partner how you know it’s a match.

    • For each match your partner finds, listen carefully to their explanation, and if you disagree, explain your thinking.

  2. When you agree on all of the matches, check your answers with the answer key. If there are any errors, discuss why and revise your matches.

  3. Select one pair of polygons to examine further. Draw both polygons on the grid. Explain or show how you know that one polygon is a scaled copy of the other.

    blank grid

Are you ready for more?

Problem 1

Is it possible to draw a polygon that is a scaled copy of both Polygon and Polygon ? Either draw such a polygon, or explain how you know this is impossible.

Lesson Summary

What is a scaled copy of a figure? Let’s look at some examples.

The second and third drawings are both scaled copies of the original Y.

A scaled copy of y.

However, here, the second and third drawings are not scaled copies of the original W.

Copies of W that are not scaled copies.

The second drawing is spread out (wider and shorter). The third drawing is squished in (narrower, but the same height).

We will learn more about what it means for one figure to be a scaled copy of another in upcoming lessons.