How does scale factor affect the change in area?

It squares the amount you scaled it by.

For example, imagine that you had 2 by 2 square, and then you put it through a scale factor of 2.

Now each side length would be double of what it once was.

But when you multiply the new lengths together, the area would be of 4 times more.

(Original Equation)  2 * 2 = 4

(Scale Factor of 2)   4 * 4 = 16

So when the scale factor is made, the area would be squared to the multiple that you scaled it by.

***A square root is a number times itself.

(eg): 3 * 3 = 9

       15 * 15 = 225

9 and 225 would be the square root in these problems.