In this post, we will look at what scale is and how it is written. We will also analyze a practical example for a better understanding of the material presented.
Scale definition
The concept of scale is actively used both in mathematics and in other sciences, for example, in physics, astronomy, geography and drawing.
Scale – this is a ratio showing how many times a certain segment on a map (drawing, object) is less or more than its corresponding length in real dimensions.
Scale Recording Order
The scale is specified in the form , most often in one line separated by a colon:
- First value is usually a unit;
- The second value – a number that shows how many times the length of a unit of measurement (mm, cm, m, km, etc.) is less than the corresponding unit in reality.
Less often, an ordinary fraction is used to record the scale, where the first value is indicated in the numerator, and the second value in the denominator.
A practical example
Suppose we are given a map with a scale
For example, the length of the segment on the map between two objects is 4,3 cm. The scale of the map is “1 : 1”. Let’s find the real distance.
The ratio of values is as follows:
| On the map | In the reality | |
| Scale | 1 | 1 000 000 |
| Distance between objects | 4,3 | x |
To find the distance, we compose, focusing on the table above:
Using the main property of the proportion, we get:
So the distance is