A scale factor in math is the ratio between corresponding measurements of an object and a representation of that object. If the scale factor is a whole number, the copy will be larger. If the scale factor is a fraction, the copy will be smaller.
A scale factor ratio can be expressed as a fraction, , or a colon, .
To find the scale factor, you first decide which direction you are scaling:
Scale Direction | Formula |
---|---|
Scale Up (smaller to larger) | |
Scale Down (larger to smaller) |
The scale factor for scaling up is a ratio greater than . The scale factor for scaling down is a ratio of less than .
Once you know which way you are scaling, you compare corresponding sides using the correct basic equation. Compare the side length of the real object to the length of the corresponding side in the representation.
Here are two similar triangles. What is the scale factor used to create the second, larger figure?
Since we are scaling up, we divide the larger number by the smaller number:
The scale factor is . To go from legs of to legs of , we needed to multiply times .
Now, let's try to scale down. Here are two similar pentagons. What is the scale factor used to create the second, smaller figure?
Because we are scaling down, we divide corresponding side lengths (smaller number by larger number):
The scale factor is . To get the second, smaller figure, we multiply ; the figure on the right uses a scale factor of , , or .
Let's look at one more example and scale both up and down. Consider these two similar right triangles with labeled sides.
If we have the little right triangle above and want to scale it up to the larger triangle, we write this:
; the scale factor is
So every other linear measure is multiplied times .
If we have the big right triangle and want to scale it down to make the smaller one, we write this:
; the scale factor is
So every other linear measure is multiplied times ; or divided by
Scale is used in geometry to make accurate reproductions of figures; they are different sizes but not proportion. Figures are similar but to scale.
Scale factor is used on similar geometric figures. You can find the scale factor of corresponding angles, sides, and even diagonals.
Suppose you are given a figure and told to reduce it by . Think in steps:
Suppose we have a rectangle that is wide and we need to reduce it by , or one-quarter ().
That means it will be of the original (). We will use or as our scale factor.
Multiply :
Now, we simplify our answer:
The width of our smaller new shape must be . We repeat these steps with the other dimension, :
Simplify:The height of our smaller rectangle must be .
A scale model is a model accurate to a scale factor. If the copy of the actual object is not made to scale, it will look unrealistic, like a little child's toy.
One object can have different scales too. The greater the difference between the two numbers of the ratio, the smaller the model will be. A model that is is generally going to be a lot smaller than a model with a ratio of .
To make scale models, you need accurate plans of the original item, like a scale drawing. A scale drawing is an accurate plan of the real object, drawn using a scale factor to make the drawing small enough to handle.
You multiply every printed dimension on the scale drawing by your scale factor to get the right sizes for model parts. If, for instance, you wanted to build a simple shed for your model railroad scene, you would use the ratio , so a long shed would come out long!
Try your hand at these questions to see if you understand the concept of scale factor in mathematics. Don’t shrink from it! Make an outsized effort!
Please do not peek ahead until you try your best to find the answers.
Scaling an object helps you visualize large real-world objects in small spaces or enlarge a small object for better viewing. Scale factor is how we ensure the representation of the object differs only in size from the original object.
We use scale to:
A common real-world use of scale factor is to bring vast areas of land down to small pieces of paper, like on a map.
Scale is used to allow designers, architects, and machinists to handle models of objects that would be too big to keep on a if they were actual size.
After working your way through this lesson and video, you will learn:
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