What type of transformation occurs when scaling a trapezoid by a factor less than 1?

When scaling a trapezoid by a factor less than 1, the transformation that occurs is known as a reduction transformation. This process effectively shrinks the trapezoid toward its origin, maintaining the shape and proportional dimensions but decreasing its overall size.

In a reduction transformation, every point of the trapezoid is moved closer to the center, resulting in a smaller version of the original figure. This is important in the context of geometric transformations, as it ensures the ratios of the corresponding sides and angles of the trapezoid remain constant, preserving its resemblance to the original shape.

The alternative transformations, such as rotation or reflection, involve altering the position or orientation of the shape without resizing it. Additionally, if the trapezoid were to remain unchanged, that would imply no scaling had occurred at all, which contradicts the premise of scaling by a factor less than one. Thus, recognizing that the scaling process inevitably leads to a reduction in size clarifies why "reduction transformation" is the correct classification for what happens to the trapezoid in this scenario.