A scale factor is a number that you can use it as a multiplier while scaling. We use scale factors to scale things 1, 2, 3 dimensions. You can express them as: ratios, decimals, fractions, or even percentages. There are limits as to how much the increase of a shape or quantity can be based on the space that is used. The place of a shape is defined by where the center of increase is present. The center of expansion can either be within the shape or outside it. How can we use scale factors? While determining an expansion, you have to tell the shape expansion process. This describing method is called the scale factor. The new shape must be greater than the size of the original shape while describing the scale factor of 2 means. When we use these values in fractional form, the shape size reduces. Despite this, we call this an expansion. So, 1/4 scale factor indicates that a new pattern is four times smaller than the original one. Verification of scale factor is necessary for bug or error fixing. If you write scale factor 2 instead of 1/2 or four instead of 1/4, you have to verify for the correct answer.

Scale factors allow us to plan on small level and adapt our planning to much larger objects. This is how maps and blueprints get by being so small. You may have been using scale for years, but not even realizing it. Have you ever looked at a legend on the map? It always includes a scale for you to work off of. Scale is directly related to ratio and proportions. When you scale up you are usually just multiplying by a fixed value. These worksheets explain how to use simple arithmetic in order to convert scale measurements into relative sizes (as in map reading). Both Imperial and Metric measurements are used.