4.2.4

Scale Factor

Test yourself

Scale Factors

Maps include a scale which tells you the relationship between the distances on the page and the distances in real life.

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Distances on maps

  • To work out distances from a map, measure the scale given to find out the relationship (e.g. 1cm = 100m).
    • Then measure the distance on the map and use the relationship to convert this to the distance in real life.
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Scale factors as ratios

  • Map scales can be written as a ratio such as 1 : 5000.
  • This means that each unit on the map represents 5000 units in real life.
    • 1cm on the map = 5000cm in real life.

Ratios in 2D Shapes

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2D shapes

  • 2D shapes are similar if all pairs of corresponding sides are in the same ratio.
  • When a 2D shape is enlarged by a scale factor of S the ratio of each original side to the enlarged side is 1 : S.

Scale Factor and Enlargement

When a shape is enlarged, its lengths are all multiplied by S.

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Area

  • When a 2D shape is enlarged by a scale factor S, because all the lengths are multiplied by S, its area will be multiplied by S2.
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Volume

  • When a 3D shape is enlarged by a scale factor S all the lengths are multiplied by S.
  • The areas in the shape will be multiplied by S2 and the volumes will be multiplied by S3.
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Example

  • A cube of side length 1cm is enlarged by scale factor 2.
  • Its initial surface area was 6cm2 and its initial volume was 1cm3.
  • After enlargement each edge is now 2cm long.
  • Its surface area is now 6 × 4cm2 = 24cm2 which is 4 times as large as before.
  • Its volume is now 23cm3 = 8cm3 which is 8 times as large as before.

Jump to other topics

1Numbers

1.1Integers

1.1.1Integers

1.1.2Ordering Numbers

1.1.3The Four Rules of Operations

1.1.4Hierarchy of Operations

1.1.5Definitions & Terms

1.1.6HCF & LCM

1.1.7Standard Form

1.1.8Standard Form 2

1.1.9Prime Numbers

1.1.10End of Topic Test - Standard Form

1.2Fractions

1.2.1Fractions

1.2.2Using Fractions

1.2.3Conversion

1.2.4Reciprocals

1.3Decimals

1.3.1Decimals

1.3.2Decimals 2

1.3.3Exam-Style Questions - Recurring Decimals

1.3.4Comparing & Converting Decimals

1.3.5End of Topic Test - Fractions & Decimals

1.4Powers & Roots

1.4.1Square Numbers

1.4.2Index Notation

1.4.3Exam-Style Questions - Index Notation

1.4.4Advanced Indices

1.4.5Surds

1.4.6End of Topic Test - Powers & Roots

1.5Set Language & Notation

1.5.1Sets

1.6Percentages

1.6.1Percentages

1.6.2Percentage Change

1.6.3Percentages in Finance

1.6.4Compound Interest

1.7Ratio & Proportion

1.7.1Manipulating Ratios

1.7.2Proportion

1.8Degree of Accuracy

1.8.1Rounding & Significant Figures

1.8.2Estimation

1.8.3Upper & Lower Bounds

1.8.4Limits of Accuracy

1.8.5Limits of Accuracy 2

1.8.6End of Topic Test - Rounding & Estimation

2Equations, Formulae & Identities

2.1Algebraic Manipulation

2.1.1Algebra Basics

2.1.2Power Rules & Collecting Terms

2.1.3Expanding Brackets

2.1.4Expanding Brackets 2

2.1.5Factorising Quadratics

2.1.6Algebraic Fractions

2.1.7Proofs

2.1.8End of Topic Test - Algebra & Proofs

2.1.9Exam-Style Questions - Algebraic Proof

2.2Expressions & Formulae

2.2.1Rearranging Formulae

2.2.2Simple Formulae

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Algebra Manipulation & Formula

2.3Linear Equations

2.3.1Solving Linear Equations

2.3.2Simultaneous Linear Equations

2.4Quadratic Equations

2.4.1Solving Quadratics

2.4.2Solving Quadratics 2

2.4.3End of Topic Test - Solving Equations

2.4.4Simulateous Quadratic Equations

2.4.5Exam-Style Questions - Simultaneous Equations

2.4.6Graphs of Simultaneous Equations

2.4.7End of Topic Test - Simultaneous Equations

2.5Proportion

2.5.1Graphs & Proportion

2.6Inequalities

2.6.1Solving Inequalities

2.6.2Graphs of Inequalities

2.6.3Exam-Style Questions - Inequalities

2.6.4End of Topic Test - Inequalities

3Sequences, Functions & Graphs

3.1Sequences

3.1.1Sequence Rules

3.1.2Finding Terms

3.1.3Exam-Style Questions - Sequences

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Sequences

3.2Functions

3.2.1Functions

3.2.2Composite & Inverse

3.2.3End of Topic Test - Functions

3.3Graphs

3.3.1Plotting Graphs

3.3.2Straight Line Graphs

3.3.3Properties of Graphs

3.3.4Quadratic Graphs

3.3.5Practical Graphs

3.3.6Graphs of Polynomials

3.3.7End of Topic Test Graphs

3.4Common Graphs

3.4.1Graphs of Common Functions

3.4.2Transformations of Graphs

3.4.3End of Topic Test - Transformations and Graph

3.5Calculus

3.5.1Derivatives of Functions

3.5.2Maxima & Minima

4Geometry

4.1Angles, Lines & Triangles

4.1.1Angles & Lines

4.1.2Angle Rules

4.1.3Angles in Triangles

4.1.4Exam-Style Questions - Angles

4.2Polygons

4.2.1Polygons

4.2.2Quadrilaterals

4.2.3Congruence

4.2.4Scale Factor

4.2.5Exam-Style Questions - Enlargements

4.2.6End of Topic Test - Geometry

4.3Symmetry

4.3.1Symmetry

4.3.2Exam-Style Questions - Reflection

4.4Measures

4.4.1Measurements

4.4.2Time

4.4.3Bearings

4.4.4Speed

4.5Circle Properties

4.5.1Properties of a Circle

4.5.2Circle Theorems

4.5.3Circle Theorems 2

4.5.4Circle Theorems 3

4.5.5Exam-Style Questions - Circle Theorems

4.6Trigonometry & Pythagoras’ theorem

4.6.1Pythagoras' Theorem

4.6.2Trigonometry

4.6.3Sine & Cosine for Obtuse Angles

4.6.4Triangle Formulae

4.6.5Exam-Style Questions - Trigonometry & Area

4.7Mensuration of 2D Shapes

4.7.1Standard Units

4.7.2Perimeter of 2D Shapes

4.7.3Area of 2D Shapes

4.7.4Area & Circumference of Circle

4.7.5End of Topic Test - Trigonometry & Shapes

4.83D Shapes & Volume

4.8.13D Shapes

4.8.2Surface Area

4.8.3Volume

4.8.4Exam-Style Questions - Volume

5Vectors & Transformation Geometry

5.1Vectors

5.1.1Vectors

5.1.2Vectors 2

5.1.3Exam-Style Questions - Vectors

5.2Transformation Geometry

5.2.1Transformations

5.2.2Rotations

5.2.3Translations & Reflections

5.2.4Enlargements

5.2.5Effects of Transformations

6Statistics & Probability

6.1Statistical Measures

6.1.1Basic Statistics

6.1.2Frequency Table

6.2Graphical Representation of Data

6.2.1Pictograms, Bar Charts & Pie Charts

6.2.2Histograms

6.2.3Cumulative Frequency

6.2.4Cumulative Frequency 2

6.2.5Exam-Style Questions - Cumulative Frequency

6.2.6End of Topic - Datasets

6.3Probability

6.3.1Probability

6.3.2Theoretical Probability

6.3.3Experimental Probability

6.3.4Venn Diagrams

6.3.5Sample Space Diagrams

6.3.6Tree Diagrams

6.3.7Independent Events

6.3.8Conditional Probability

6.3.9End of Topic Test - Probability

6.3.10Exam-Style Questions - Probability

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Congruence

Exam-Style Questions - Enlargements