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.
- Work out .
- Simplify the ratio .
Check the warm-up
- .
- .
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 . Work out the real distance represented by 6 cm, in kilometres.
Hint
Multiply the map length by to find the real length in centimetres.
Next step
cm. Use cm in a kilometre.
Full working
, so the real distance is 1.5 km.
2. A 4 cm drawing represents a 6 m wall. Write the scale in the form .
Hint
Write both lengths in the same unit before forming the ratio.
Next step
, so the ratio is .
Full working
Divide both parts by 4: the scale is .
3. A map uses scale . Two towns are 7 cm apart on the map. Work out the real distance in kilometres.
Hint
Multiply by , then convert centimetres to kilometres.
Next step
cm.
Full working
, so the real distance is 3.5 km.
4. Earlier learning. Work out .
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
. Changing centimetres to metres uses the same place-value move.