1. What is the Scale Factor?

The scale factor is the ratio of the new distance to the original distance in a scaled figure. It describes how much larger or smaller the new figure is compared to the original.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the scale factor formula:

Where:

• New Distance — Length of a side in the scaled figure
• Original Distance — Corresponding length in the original figure

Explanation: A scale factor greater than 1 indicates an enlargement, while a scale factor between 0 and 1 indicates a reduction.

3. Importance of Scale Factor

Details: The scale factor is crucial in geometry for understanding similar figures, map scaling, architectural drawings, and model building.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both distances in the same units. The original distance must be greater than zero. The result is dimensionless.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a scale factor of 2 mean?
A: A scale factor of 2 means the new figure is twice as large in all dimensions as the original.

Q2: What if the scale factor is less than 1?
A: A scale factor between 0 and 1 means the new figure is smaller than the original (a reduction).

Q3: How is scale factor related to area?
A: Area scales by the square of the scale factor. A scale factor of 3 means the area becomes 9 times larger.

Q4: How is scale factor related to volume?
A: Volume scales by the cube of the scale factor. A scale factor of 2 means the volume becomes 8 times larger.

Q5: Can scale factor be negative?
A: No, distances are always positive, so scale factor is always positive in this context.