1. What is Scale Factor?

The scale factor is the ratio of the new dimension to the original dimension. It describes how much an object has been enlarged or reduced in size.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the scale factor formula:

Where:

• New Dimension — The measurement after scaling
• Original Dimension — The measurement before scaling

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

3. Importance of Scale Factor

Details: Scale factor is crucial in geometry, architecture, engineering, and map reading. It helps maintain proportions when resizing objects or drawings.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both new and original dimensions in the same units. Values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

Q2: What does a scale factor of 0.5 mean?
A: A scale factor of 0.5 means the new dimension is half the size of the original.

Q3: Can scale factor be negative?
A: In this basic calculation, scale factor is always positive. Negative scale factors would indicate reflection in advanced applications.

Q4: How is scale factor used in real life?
A: It's used in blueprint scaling, model building, map reading, and image resizing.

Q5: What's the difference between scale factor and ratio?
A: Scale factor is a specific type of ratio that compares corresponding dimensions before and after scaling.