A dilation calculator finds the new coordinates of a point or shape after a dilation, a transformation that enlarges or shrinks a figure by a scale factor around a center point. It’s a common topic in geometry, and it’s also how maps, blueprints and digital images are resized.
For a dilation centered at the origin with scale factor k, multiply each coordinate by k: (x, y) → (kx, ky). For example, dilating the point (3, −2) by a factor of 2 gives (6, −4). For a center at (a, b), use (x, y) → (a + k(x − a), b + k(y − b)). Dilating (5, 4) by a factor of 3 around (1, 1) gives (1 + 3 Ă— 4, 1 + 3 Ă— 3) = (13, 10).
If k is greater than 1, the figure gets larger (an enlargement). If k is between 0 and 1, it gets smaller (a reduction). A negative scale factor also flips the figure through the center. Dilations preserve angles and shape, so the image is similar to the original, but lengths scale by |k| and areas scale by k².
Tips: always identify the center of dilation first, apply the scale factor to the distance from the center, not just the coordinates, and check that corresponding angles stay equal. To find a scale factor, divide an image length by the matching original length.
How to use the Dilation Calculator on Minedit: enter your values in the fields, press calculate, and review the step-by-step breakdown under the result. If something looks off, change one input at a time to see how it affects the answer, which is also a great way to learn the math behind it.
Why use an online Dilation Calculator: it saves time, avoids simple arithmetic mistakes and shows each step, so you can check your homework, plan a project or make a decision with confidence. Bookmark the page so it’s ready the next time you need it.
Learn more on Wikipedia’s homothety (dilation) article. Find area of a triangle, golden ratio and unit vector calculators on Minedit.