Scale Drawings

Measure lines on a drawing

Reduce and Enlarge a drawing

A scale drawing is a
drawing of an object with
dimensions proportional to
those of the actual object.

To find lengths from scale

drawings, set up and
solve ratio and
proportions.

A drawing that shows

a real object
with accurate sizes
except they
have all been reduced
or enlarged
by a certain amount
(called the scale).

Example: this drawing has

a scale of "1:10", so
anything drawn with the
size of "1" would have a
size of "10" in the real
world, so a measurement of
150mm on the drawing
would be 1500mm on the
real horse

Since it is not always possible to draw on

paper the actual size of real-life objects
such as the real size of a car, or an airplane,
we need scale drawings to represent the
size like the one you see below of a van.

In real-life, the length of this van may measure 6 metres.

Paper length less than 30 cm - needs 20 sheets
To use just one sheet,
- 1 cm drawing to represent 20 cm on the real object
You can write this situation as 1:20 or 1/20 or 1 to 20

Notice : First number refers to the length of the drawing on paper and
the second number refers to the length of real object

Example:

Suppose that the length of the vehicle is drawn to scale - 1:20 and
measures 30 cm on paper.

Let x be the real length of the vehicle.

The length of the drawing is 30 cm
30 x 20 = X
X = 600 cm

Hence the length of the

vehicle is 600cm or 6 m.

Scale factors/
Ratio

When we draw maps or

plans we use a scale so that
we can fit a large area on a
small amount of paper..

A scale factor reduces or

enlarges a shape (such that
while it is made bigger or
smaller) its proportions
remain the same.

Enlarging by a scale factor

The size is increased
Proportionally equal
The trick with ratios is to always
multiply the numbers in the ratio
by the same value.
Ex: 4 : 5 is same as 42 : 52 = 8 : 10

Drawing to Scale

When architects draw up plans they use a scale, ex

1:100
This means - 1cm on the drawing represents 100cm in
real life
Scales allow architects to draw accurate floor plans
door
Drawing to scale is easy!

Double-glazed