The scale on a drawing

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Quandaries & Queries

Subject: Scale Drawings
Name: Sandra
Who are you: Teacher

If I have a 1cm x 1cm square and enlarge it to a 2cm x 2 cm square, does that show a 1:2 scale or 1:4 scale?
Do you use the length only or is area involved?

Thanks for your anticipated help.

Hi Sandra,

That is a 1:2 scale. The scale on a drawing refers to the linear scale. You are correct however that when the scale increases by a factor of 4 the area increases by a factor of 2².

Penny

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