GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

5.5 Scale factors, scale diagrams and maps — Practise with help

Try each question first. Open a hint if you are stuck, the next step for one concrete move, and the full working only to check.

Warm-up: remember

Answer these from memory. Do not look back at the section.

  1. Work out 6×10006\times1000.
  2. Simplify the ratio 4:124:12.
Check the warm-up
  1. 6×1000=60006\times1000=6000.
  2. 4:12=1:34:12=1:3.

If an answer differs, revisit Section 1.2 for multiplication and Section 5.1 for simplifying ratios.

Practise with help

1. A map uses scale 1:25 0001:25\,000. Work out the real distance represented by 6 cm, in kilometres.

Hint

Multiply the map length by 25 00025\,000 to find the real length in centimetres.

Next step

6×25 000=150 0006\times25\,000=150\,000 cm. Use 100 000100\,000 cm in a kilometre.

Full working

150 000÷100 000=1.5150\,000\div100\,000=1.5, so the real distance is 1.5 km.

2. A 4 cm drawing represents a 6 m wall. Write the scale in the form 1:n1:n.

Hint

Write both lengths in the same unit before forming the ratio.

Next step

6 m=600 cm6\text{ m}=600\text{ cm}, so the ratio is 4:6004:600.

Full working

Divide both parts by 4: the scale is 1:1501:150.

3. A map uses scale 1:50 0001:50\,000. Two towns are 7 cm apart on the map. Work out the real distance in kilometres.

Hint

Multiply by 50 00050\,000, then convert centimetres to kilometres.

Next step

7×50 000=350 0007\times50\,000=350\,000 cm.

Full working

350 000÷100 000=3.5350\,000\div100\,000=3.5, so the real distance is 3.5 km.

4. Earlier learning. Work out 2.4×1002.4\times100.

Hint

Multiplying by 100 moves each digit two places to the left.

Next step

Move the digits of 2.4 two places: 2, then 4 tens.

Full working

2.4×100=2402.4\times100=240. Changing centimetres to metres uses the same place-value move.

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