What Is Center of Dilation in Mathematics?

By Staff WriterLast Updated April 10, 2020

In mathematics, the term “center of dilation” refers to a constant point on a surface from which all other points are either enlarged or compressed. The center of dilation and the scale factor comprise the two properties of a dilation.

A dilation is a type of transformation of a two-dimensional geometric figure that yields an image, which is similar in form to the initial object but varies in size. The scale factor determines the degree or amount to which the object is increased or decreased. The origin of a coordinate plane with the points x = 0 and y = 0 is the most common center of dilation in geometry.