After a dilation with a center of (0, 0), a point was mapped as (4, –6) → (12, y). A student determined y to be –2. Evaluate the student's answer.

The x-coordinate changes from 4 to 12, so the scale factor is 12 ÷ 4 = 3. A dilation about the origin multiplies both coordinates by 3, giving y = −6 × 3 = −18. The student’s value of −2 comes from dividing −6 by 3 instead of multiplying, so choice C is correct.

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