Use Scale Factor When

Problem Solving

Brenda Meery
Jen Kershaw

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Printed: September 17, 2018

www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Use Scale Factor When Problem Solving

C HAPTER
1 Use Scale Factor When
Problem Solving
Learning Objectives

In this concept, you will learn to use scale factors when problem solving.

Lifan’s driveway has a length of 24 feet. If the scale is 2 inches : 4 feet, what is the scale factor? In a diagram, how
many inches would Lifan draw to represent his driveway?
In this concept, you will learn to use scale factors when problem solving.

Scale Factor

The scale can be used to help you with scale dimensions or actual dimensions. This scale is key in problem solving.
If you look at the scale 2 : 1, you can use this information to determine the scale factor. The scale factor is the
relationship between the scale dimension and the measurement comparison between the scale measurement of the
model and the actual length. In this case the scale factor is 12 .
Let’s look at an example.
What is the scale factor if 3 inches is equal to 12 feet?
First, write the ratio.

3
12

Next, simplify the fraction.

3 1
=
12 4

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The answer is 14 .
The scale factor is 1 : 4.
Now let’s look at a problem where you are applying this information.
If the scale dimension is 4, then you can figure out the actual dimension. Look at this proportion:
1:2=4:x
First, put the proportion in fraction form.

1 4
=
2 x

Next, cross multiply to solve for x.

1
2 = 4x
1x = 2 × 4
x = 8

The answer is 8.
This is the actual dimension.
Let’s look at a real world problem.
The plans for a flower garden show that it is 6 inches wide on the plan. If the scale for the flower garden is 1 : 12,
what is the actual width of the flower garden?
First, write the proportion.

1 : 12 = 6 : x

Next, put the proportion in fraction form.

1 6
=
12 x

Then, cross multiply to solve for x.

1
12 = 6x
1x = 12 × 6
x = 72

The answer is 72.

The actual width of the flower garden is 72 inches.

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www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Use Scale Factor When Problem Solving

Examples

Example 1

Earlier, you were given a problem about Lifan and his long driveway. The scale is 2 inches : 4 feet and the driveway
is 24 feet long.
First, write the proportion. Note that 2 : 4 is the scale factor.

2 : 4 = x : 24

Next, put the proportion in fraction form.

2 x
=
4 24

Then, cross multiply to solve for x.

2 x
4 = 24
4x = 2 × 24
4x = 48

Then, divide both sides by 4 to solve for x.

4x = 48
4x
4 = 48
4
x = 12

The answer is 12.

The scale dimension of Lifan’s driveway is 12 inches.

Example 2

Find the missing actual dimension if the scale factor is 200 : 30 and the scale measurement is 600 .
First, write the proportion.

2:3=6:x

Next, put the proportion in fraction form.

2 6
=
3 x

Then, cross multiply to solve for x.

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 www.ck12.org

2
3 = 6x
2x = 3 × 6
2x = 18

Then, divide both sides by 2 to solve for x.

2x = 18
2x
2 = 18
2
x = 9

The answer is 9.
The actual dimension is 9 feet.

Example 3

1 00
Find the missing actual dimension if the scale factor is 4 : 40 and the scale measurement is 800 .
First, write the proportion.

1
:4=8:x
4

Next, put the proportion in fraction form.

1
8
4
4 = x
1 8
16 = x

Then, cross multiply to solve for x.

1
16 = 8x
1x = 8 × 16
x = 128

The answer is 128.

The actual dimension is 128 feet.

Example 4

1 00
Find the missing actual dimension if the scale factor is 4 : 40 and the scale measurement is 120 .
First, write the proportion.

1
: 4 = x : 12
4

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www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Use Scale Factor When Problem Solving

Next, put the proportion in fraction form.

1
x
4
4 = 12
1 x
16 = 12

Then, cross multiply to solve for x.

1 x
16= 12
16x = 1 × 12
16x = 12

Then, divide both sides by 16 to solve for x .

16x = 12
16x
16 = 12
16
x = 12
16
x = 34

The answer is 34 .
3
The actual dimension is 4 inches.

Example 5

1 00
Find the missing actual dimension if the scale factor is 4 : 40 and the scale measurement is 1600 .
First, write the proportion.

1
: 4 = 16 : x
4

Next, put the proportion in fraction form.

1
16
4
4 = x
1 16
16 = x

Then, cross multiply to solve for x.

1
16= 16
x
1x = 16 × 16
x = 256

The answer is 256.

The actual dimension is 256 feet.

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 www.ck12.org

Review

Figure out each scale factor.

1. 2 8inches
feet
2. 1312inches
feet
3. 624inches
feet
4.
11 inches
33 feet

5. 1632inches
feet
6. 1836inches
feet
7. 648inches
feet
8. 612inches
feet
Solve each problem.
9. A rectangle has a width of 2 inches. A similar rectangle has a width of 9 inches. What scale factor could be used
to convert the larger rectangle to the smaller rectangle?
10. A drawing of a man is 4 inches high. The actual man is 64 inches tall. What is the scale factor for the drawing?
11. A map has a scale of 1 inch = 4 feet. What is the scale factor of the map?
12. A drawing of a box has dimensions that are 2 inches, 3 inches, and 5 inches. The dimensions of the actual box
will be 3 14 times the dimensions in the drawing. What are the dimensions of the actual box?
1
13. A room has a length of 10 feet. Hadley is drawing a scale drawing of the room, using the scale factor 50 . How
long will the room be in Hadley’s drawing?
14. The distance from Anna’s room to the kitchen is 15 meters. Anna is making a diagram of her house using the
1
scale factor of 150 . What will be the distance on the diagram from Anna’s room to the kitchen?
1
15. On a map of Cameron’s town, his house is 9 inches from his school. If the scale of the map is 400 , what is the
actual distance, in feet, from Cameron’s house to his school?

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www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Use Scale Factor When Problem Solving