What is the easiest way to explain how to dilate an object/ shape

To dilate a shape means ur either going to make it larger or ur going to make it smaller. U will do this by multiplying every side of ur shape by a certain number.

if u r dilating it from a smaller shape to a larger shape, u would multiply it by a whole number.

if u r dilating it from a larger shape to a smaller shape, they u would multiply it by a fraction less then 1.

example :
u have a larger shape with one side measuring 6 inches...and u have another one (the smaller one) with the side that is 2 inches. To find the scale factor...it basically is set up like this : 6 * ? = 26x = 2x = 2/6 which reduces to 1/3meaning for every side of the big shape, multiply it by 2/3 to get the size of the small shape...notice how from going bigger to smaller, u r multiplying by a fraction to get the sizes of the smaller shape.

now if u have a smaller shape with a side measuring 2 inches...and a larger shape with a side measuring 6 inches (going from smaller to larger), u would multiply everything on the small shape by 3 because 2 * 3 = 6. So the scale factor would be 3. so going from smaller to larger, u r multiplying by a whole number