What is a dilation? Give an example of a geometric dilation in the real world.
A dilation is a type of transformation that changes the size of a figure without changing its shape. It involves stretching or shrinking a figure uniformly in all directions from a center point, using a scale factor.
An example of a geometric dilation in the real world can be seen in the use of maps. Maps often represent large geographical areas on a smaller scale, therefore employing a dilation. For instance, a city map might depict the entire city and surrounding areas, but in a much smaller size, allowing all the relevant information to be shown in a compact form. In this case, the buildings, roads, and landmarks on the map are dilated versions of their actual sizes.