Scale Factor

Front

What is a scale factor?

Back

A scale factor is a number that scales, or multiplies, some quantity. It is used to determine the proportional relationship between two similar figures.

Front

How do you calculate the scale factor between two similar figures?

Back

To calculate the scale factor, divide the length of a side of the larger figure by the corresponding length of a side of the smaller figure.

Front

If a scale factor is greater than 1, what does it indicate about the new figure?

Back

If the scale factor is greater than 1, the new figure is an enlargement of the original figure.

Front

What does a scale factor of less than 1 indicate?

Back

A scale factor of less than 1 indicates that the new figure is a reduction of the original figure.

Front

In a scale drawing, if 1 inch represents 5 yards, how many yards does 3 inches represent?

Back

3 inches represents 15 yards (3 inches x 5 yards/inch = 15 yards).

Front

What is the scale of a drawing if a soccer field is 14 inches long in the drawing and 98 yards long in reality?

Back

The scale of the drawing is 1 inch = 7 yards.

Front

How do you convert a scale measurement to actual distance?

Back

To convert a scale measurement to actual distance, multiply the scale measurement by the scale factor.

Front

If the distance between two cities on a map is 4.125 inches and the scale is 2 inches = 40 miles, what is the actual distance?

Back

The actual distance is 82.5 miles.

Front

What is the relationship between scale factor and area?

Back

The area of similar figures is proportional to the square of the scale factor.

Front

If triangle ABC has a scale factor of 2/1 to triangle DEF, what does this mean?

Back

It means that each side of triangle ABC is twice as long as the corresponding side of triangle DEF.