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It is sometimes utterly impossible to accurately model an object or real-life scenario using the original dimensions. Here, scale drawings and models come into action. This lesson will expand on how these tools are instrumental in modeling some common cases.

Catch-Up and Review

Here are a few recommended readings before getting started with this lesson.

Challenge

Maps and Actual Distances

On a sunny Saturday morning, Kevin — a boy with a passion for formula racing cars — wakes up and finds a letter sitting on the table. It is from his pops.

Note: I have a great gift for you. To get it, you must solve all the puzzles I prepared in a scavenger hunt.
The first task Kevin faces is to get to his uncle's bakery without the help of his phone's GPS. He is given two things: a tape measure and a map with a marked route.
Map with two placeholders
External credits: Freepik, Kerismaker - Flaticon
When Kevin arrives at the bakery, his uncle asks him how far he walked from home. If Kevin answers correctly, he will get the next task in the scavenger hunt!
Discussion

The Scale of a Map

Most maps include the math of a particular relation between two units of measure. One of the measures refers to distances on the map itself and the other refers to actual distances. This relationship is called a scale. Other real-life tools use this relationship as well.

Concept

Scale

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.

Suppose a drawing has a scale of This means that inch on the drawing represents 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
Equals Sign
Fraction

When a scale is written without specifying the units, it is understood that both numbers have the same units of measure. For example, a scale of means that the actual object is twice the size of the model. A scale of means that the actual object is half the size of the model.

Big fire truck, scalable fire truck, and scale between the two trucks
External credits: Derek Quinn
Discussion

Scale Drawing

A scale drawing is a two-dimensional drawing that is similar to an actual object or place. In a scale drawing, the ratio of any length on the drawing to the actual length is always the same and equal to the scale of the drawing.
Possible examples of scale drawing are floor plans, blueprints, and maps. Plan.jpg
On Kevin's map, the scale is This means that inches on the map represents yards in real life. On the map, Kevin's route is inches long. Let be the actual distance. The following equation can be set.
By solving this equation for the distance Kevin walked from his house to his uncle's bakery can be found.
Solve for

Cross out common units

Cancel out common units

Kevin walked yards.
Example

Finding a Missing Length

After correctly determining the distance traveled to the bakery, Kevin's uncle trades him the tape measure for a smartwatch and a new map. Kevin's next task is to reach his aunt's house. There is one catch — his route has to pass through the local bank.
Animation of walk in a map
Kevin makes it to his aunt's house! She asks him how is her house from the bank on the map in inches? Kevin has to answer correctly to continue the scavenger hunt.

Hint

A map is a scale drawing. Then, the ratio of any length on the drawing to the actual length is always the same. The watch shows the distances traveled, where the first distance indicates the distance between the bakery and the bank.

Solution

Kevin's smartwatch gives the actual distances between the visited places. According to the map, the bakery and the bank are inches apart. Let be the distance between the bank and the aunt's house on the map.

Place Place Distance on the Map (in) Actual Distance (mi)
Bakery Bank
Bank Aunt's house
Since a map is a scale drawing, the ratio of any length on the drawing to the actual length always remains the same. Based on that, the following equation is created.
The value of can be found by solving this equation.
Solve for
On the map, the bank and the aunt's house are inches apart.
Kevin tells the answer to the aunt. The answer is correct. Kevin takes a backpack and go to the lighthouse.
Discussion

Scale for Three Dimensional Objects

If the original real-life situation involves a three-dimensional object, making a scale model is more useful than a drawing. The idea behind a scale model is the same as a scale drawing, but the model has three dimensions instead of two.

Concept

Scale Model

A scale model is a three-dimensional model that is similar to a three-dimensional object. The ratio of a linear measurement of a model to the corresponding linear measurement of the actual object is always the same and equal to the scale of the model.
Here is an example scale model of a building. Building-Model.jpg
Example

Height of a Lighthouse

The lighthouse door is closed and the code to open it is the actual height of the lighthouse, measured in meters. For a moment, Kevin does not know what to do. He realizes that he should open the backpack his aunt gave him. Inside, he finds a scale model of the lighthouse and a tape measure.

External credits: Ekayasa.Design

Kevin figures it out and manages to measure the width of the base of the lighthouse. Also, he measures the width and height of the scale model with the tape measure.

Scale Model Lighthouse
Width
Height
Determine the code that opens the lighthouse door.

Hint

In a scale model, the ratio of a linear measurement on the model to the corresponding linear measurement on the actual object is always the same.

Solution

Let be the height of the lighthouse. In a scale model, the ratio of a linear measurement on the model to the corresponding linear measurement on the actual object is always the same. This leads to writing the following equation.
The height of the lighthouse can be found by solving the previous equation for
The height of the lighthouse is meters. Kevin is ready to enter the lighthouse.
Entering Code
Discussion

Length Scale Factor

The length scale factor of a scale drawing or scale model is the ratio of a length on the drawing or model to the corresponding actual length where both lengths have the same units of measure.

Since it is a ratio, the length scale factor can also be written using colon notation. However, it is usually written as a constant that describes the relationship between the dimensions of the scale drawing or scale model and the actual dimensions.
Example

Finding Length Scale Factors

At the top of the lighthouse, Kevin finds a blueprint of his room and a scale model of his house shed. He understands that he must return home.
Three-dimensional shed
In his room, Kevin finds a chest closed with a padlock. The pin to open it is times the sum of the length scale factors of the blueprint and the scale shed.
Padlock with a pin
External credits: juicy_fish
Kevin uses the tape measure and finds that his bed is meters long. He then goes to the backyard and measures the width of the shed. It is meters wide. What is the pin of the padlock?

Hint

Be sure all the dimensions are written with the same units of measure before finding the length scale factor.

Solution

The length scale factor of the blueprint is the ratio of a dimension on the blueprint to the corresponding actual dimension. The dimensions of the bed on the blueprint are written on its side. Additionally, Kevin measured his actual bed length.

Blueprint Dimensions (cm) Actual Dimensions (m)
Bed length
Bed width
Before finding the length scale factor, all the dimensions should be written with the same units of measure. Use the fact that meter is the same as centimeters to convert meters to centimeters.
Next, divide the bed length on the blueprint by the actual length of the bed to find the scale factor.
The length scale factor of the blueprint is This means that the actual dimensions of the bed — and the entire room — were divided by to make the blueprint.
Blueprint

Similarly, the length scale factor of the scale shed can be found. The width and length of the model are known and Kevin measured the actual width of the shed.

Scale Model Dimensions (cm) Actual Dimensions (m)
Length
Width
As before, write all the dimensions using the same units of measure.
The length scale factor is the quotient between the width of the scale shed and the actual width of the shed.
Now that both length scale factors are known, the pin of the padlock can be found. Recall, it is times the sum of the length scale factors.
Simplify
The pin to open the padlock is
Example

Next Stop

Kevin eagerly opens the chest. He discovers a tablet! Upon powering it on, a map with a marker at his current position and another marker at his next stop appear. Kevin then presses the navigate button. Oh no! The app locks and asks him what the actual distance is between the marked places, in yards.
Tablet with a navigating app
External credits: Freepik
According to the information given by the app, with the current zoom, the markers are inches apart on the screen and the length scale factor is What pin unlocks the app?

Hint

The ratio of the distance on the tablet to the actual distance is equal to the length scale factor. Use the fact that inches are the same as yard.

Solution

Since a map is a scale drawing, the ratio of any length on the map to the actual length is always the same and equal to the length scale factor.
This means that the ratio of the distance between the marked places on the tablet to the actual distance is equal to the length scale factor. Let be the actual distance. According to the information given by the app, the places are inches apart on the screen and the scale factor is
Solve for
The places are inches apart. This can be converted to yards by using the fact that inches are the same as yard.