Sign In
The scale of a model or drawing is the ratio between any length on the model or drawing and its corresponding length on the actual object or place.
lLength on the drawing : lCorresponding length on the actual object
Suppose a drawing has a scale of 1 in:100 ft. This means that 1 inch on the drawing represents 100 feet on the actual object. Apart from the colon notation, a scale can be expressed using an equals sign or as a fraction, as it is a ratio.
| Denoting a Scale | |
|---|---|
| Ratio | 1 in : 100 ft |
| Equals Sign | 1 in = 100 ft |
| Fraction | 1 in/100 ft |
When a scale is written without specifying the units, it is understood that both numbers have the same unit of measure. For example, a scale of 1:2 means that the actual object is twice the size of the model. A scale of 1:0.5 means that the actual object is half the size of the model — whether it be in meters, inches, yards, and so on.
