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

If a scale factor is 1:10, what does it mean?

Back

It means that 1 unit on the drawing represents 10 units in real life.

Front

How do you calculate the height of a scale drawing?

Back

To calculate the height in a scale drawing, divide the actual height by the scale factor.

Front

What is the scale factor if a figure is enlarged from 5 inches to 15 inches?

Back

The scale factor is 3 (15 inches / 5 inches).

Front

What happens to a figure if the scale factor is less than 1?

Back

The figure will be reduced in size.

Front

What happens to a figure if the scale factor is greater than 1?

Back

The figure will be enlarged.

Front

If a triangle has sides of 3, 4, and 5, and is scaled by a factor of 2, what are the new side lengths?

Back

The new side lengths will be 6, 8, and 10.

Front

What is the scale factor from a rectangle measuring 4x6 to a rectangle measuring 2x3?

Back

The scale factor is 1/2.

Front

How do you find the missing side length in similar triangles?

Back

Use the ratio of the corresponding sides to set up a proportion and solve for the missing length.

Front

What is the relationship between scale factor and area?

Back

If the scale factor is k, the area of the new figure is k² times the area of the original figure.