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Scale Factor Formula:
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Scale factor is a number that scales, or multiplies, some quantity. In geometry, it describes how much a figure is enlarged or reduced. A scale factor greater than 1 indicates an enlargement, while a scale factor between 0 and 1 indicates a reduction.
The calculator uses the scale factor formula:
Where:
Explanation: The scale factor represents the ratio between corresponding lengths in similar geometric figures. It determines how much larger or smaller the new figure is compared to the original.
Details: Scale factor is crucial in various applications including architectural design, map reading, model building, and computer graphics. It helps maintain proportions when resizing objects while preserving their geometric properties.
Tips: Enter both new dimension and original dimension in the same units. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero. The calculator will compute the scale factor as a decimal value.
Q1: What does a scale factor of 2 mean?
A: A scale factor of 2 means the new figure is twice as large as the original in all dimensions.
Q2: What does a scale factor of 0.5 mean?
A: A scale factor of 0.5 means the new figure is half the size of the original in all dimensions.
Q3: Can scale factor be negative?
A: In standard geometric scaling, scale factor is typically positive. Negative scale factors are used in reflections but are not applicable to simple scaling operations.
Q4: How is scale factor related to area and volume?
A: Area scales by the square of the scale factor, and volume scales by the cube of the scale factor. For example, if scale factor is 2, area becomes 4 times larger, and volume becomes 8 times larger.
Q5: What units should I use for the dimensions?
A: You can use any units (cm, m, inches, etc.) as long as both dimensions use the same units, since the scale factor is a unitless ratio.