Scale Maths - GCSE Maths - Steps, Examples & Worksheet

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GCSE Maths Ratio and Proportion Scale
Scale Maths
Here we will learn about scale maths, including scale diagrams and scale drawing, scale factors and real life applications.
There are also scale maths worksheets based on Edexcel, AQA and OCR exam questions, along with further guidance on where to go
next if you’re still stuck.
What is scale maths?
Scale maths is a way of enlarging an object.
If we have two shapes that are similar, one will be a scale diagram of the other.
We can calculate the scale factors for length, area and volume.
Let’s look at this example,
Length scale factor
The length scale factor can be calculated by comparing two lengths.
We can compare the length of A with the length of B.
This gives the ratio 3 : 6 which simplifies to 1 : 2.
The length scale factor from A to B is 2.
Area scale factor
The area scale factor can be calculated by comparing two areas.
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We can compare the area of A with the area of B.
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Area A = 3cm × 3cm = 9cm2
Area B = 6cm × 6cm = 36cm2
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The area scale factor from A to B is 4.
Volume scale factor
The volume scale factor can be calculated by comparing two volumes.
Volume A = 3cm × 3cm × 3cm = 27cm2
Volume B = 6cm × 6cm × 6cm = 216cm2
The volume scale factor from A to B is 4.
Alternatively we can calculate the area and volume scale factors by starting with the scale factor for length.
We can square the length scale factor to calculate the area scale factor.
We can cube the length scale factor to calculate the volume scale factor.
In the above example,
Scale factor for length = 2
Scale factor for area = 22 =4
Scale factor for volume = 23 =8
Step-by-step guide: Scale diagram
What is scale maths?
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Scale drawing
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Scale maths is used for real world scale drawings as it is much easier to create a scale drawing of an object, than to draw the object
using actual distances.
The ratio usually takes the form 1 : n of the model/plan to the actual distance.
For example,
Below is a scale diagram of a floor plan of a house where 1 square is equal to 2 metres.
Writing this as a ratio we get 1 square: 2m.
From this diagram, we can calculate the width of the living room by counting squares.

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As the living room is 4 squares wide and we have the ratio 1 square: 2m, multiplying the number of squares by 2 we get the actual
width of the living room.
4 × 2 = 8m so the living room is 8m wide.
Step-by-step guide: Scale drawing
How to use scale maths
In order to calculate the actual / real life distance from a scale:
1 State the scale of the enlargement as a ratio in the form 1 : n.
2 Multiply n by the length given from the model.
3 Write the units.
In order to calculate the model length from a scale:
1 Divide the real life distance by the map scale ratio.
2 Write the units.
In order to calculate a ratio from a scale diagram:
1 Identify two lines that are mathematically similar.
2 Express the lengths as a ratio A : B.
3 Simplify the ratio.
Explain how to use scale maths
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Explain how to calculate the model length from a scale
Explain how to calculate a ratio from a scale diagram
Scale maths worksheet
Get your free scale maths worksheet of 20+ questions and answers. Includes reasoning and applied questions.
DOWNLOAD FREE
Scale maths examples
Example 1: map (find the actual distance)
A map has a scale of 1cm : 5km. Find the actual distance represented by 3cm on the map.
1cm : 5km
2 Multiply n by the length given fromand
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model.
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5 × 3 = 15
3 Write the units.
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15km.
Example 2: plan of a structure (find the actual distance)
The construction plans for a structure has the scale 2cm : 3m. What is the actual distance of 62cm on the plan?

Show step
2 Multiply n by the length given from the model.
Show step
3 Write the units.
Show step
Example 3: map of the UK (find the model length)
A map of the UK is drawn using the scale 30cm : 1500km. Calculate how far 480km would be on the map.
Hide Step
Before we do this, let’s convert the ratio to the form 1 cm : n km by dividing both sides of the ratio by 30.
1cm : 50km
Now we can calculate the length on the map.
480 ÷ 50 = 9.6
2 Write the units.
Hide Step
9.6cm
Example 4: floor plan (find the model length)
A plan of a kitchen uses the scale 5cm : 20cm. Calculate the distance on the plan for the actual distance of 8.7m.
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Hideon how we use
Step

Before we do this, let’s convert the ratio to the form 1 cm : n cm by dividing both sides of the ratio by 5.
1cm : 4cm
We also can convert 8.7m to centimetres by multiplying it by 100.

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8.7m = 870cm
870 ÷ 4 = 217.5
2 Write the units.
Hide Step
217.5cm
Example 5: 2D polygon (calculate the ratio)
A kite has a vertical height of 28cm and a width of 12cm. The scale diagram of the same kite has a width of 8cm.
What is the ratio of the real kite to the scale diagram? Write your answer in its simplest form.
Hide Step
Here we have the two widths of the kite with the lengths 12cm and 8cm.

Hide Step
The ratio is of the form actual : scale diagram so we have the ratio
12 cm : 8 cm.
Hide Step
Writing the ratio in the simplest form (divide throughout by 4) we have
3cm : 2cm or 3 : 2.
Example 6: scale model
The circumference of Jupiter is 439, 624 km. A scale model of the planet has a diameter of 11.2 cm. Calculate the ratio of the scale
diagram to the real planet Jupiter.
Give your answer if the form a cm : b km. Write a and b correct to 2 significant figures.
Show step

Hide Step
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The ratio is of the form scale diagram : actual so we have the ratio
35.185...cm : 439624 km.
Hide Step
This ratio cannot be simplified but we could round the values to make them easier to read. Rounding the ratio, we get
35 cm : 440 000 km.
Common misconceptions
Multiplying the real life distance by the ratio scale
A common error is to multiply the real life distance by the ratio scale instead of dividing, giving an incorrect distance on the plan.
Dividing the model / plan / map distance by the ratio scale
A common misconception is to divide the distance on the model / plan / map by the ratio scale resulting in an incorrect real life distance.
The order of the ratio is incorrect
Stating the ratio in the incorrect order will mean that the scale diagram is much larger / smaller than expected.
For example, a ratio represents the scale diagram to the real life distance. The ratio 1 : 2 means that the real life distance is twice the
length of the scale diagram. The ratio 2 : 1 on the other hand means that the real life distance is half of the scale diagram.
Ratio scale not simplified
If given the ratio 2 cm : 5 km, it is easier to calculate when the ratio is in the form 1 : n and so we must find an equivalent ratio before
using the scale.
Here the ratio would be 1 cm : 2.5 km so 1 cm on the map would be equal to 2.5 km in real life
Incorrect units in the solution
A common misconception is to mix up the units for the model with the units for the real life distance.
For example, if we were calculating the distance of 10 cm on a map with the scale ratio of 1 cm : 5 km, 10 × 5 = 50 cm could be
incorrectly stated. Whereas the correct solution would be 10 × 5 = 50 km.
Converting units
Sometimes the units need to be converted, so it is important to be able to confidently convert between different metric units.
For example, the map scale is given as 1: 25 000 which means that 1 cm on the map is equivalent to 25 000 cm in real life. If the
answer need to be be written in kilometres, the real life value in centimetres must be divided by 100 000 to get the same measurement
in kilometres. 1 : 25 000 = 1 cm : 0.25 km.

Practice scale maths questions
1. A map has a scale 1 : 125 000. The distance between two points on the map is 3.8 cm. What is the real distance in kilometres?
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475000 cm
32894 cm
4.75 km
3.28 km
2. The plan of a window seat is drawn using the scale of 2 cm : 1 m. What is the actual length of the window seat if it measures 5.8 cm on
the scale drawing?
2.9 m
2.9 cm
11.6 cm
11.6 m
3. A map has a scale of 1

cm : 2 km. The length of a walk is measured as 13850 m. What would the distance on the map be for the same
walk? Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.
27.7 km
6.9 cm
13.9 km
27.7 cm
4. A plan of a cruise ship uses the scale 1 cm : 0.8 m. The deck of the ship is 304 m in length. Calculate the length of the model cruise ship
in metres.
380 m
2.432 m
243.2 m

3.8 m
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5. Below is a diagram showing two triangular prisms. Prism B is a model of Prism A.
Calculate the ratio of lengths of Prism A to lengths of Prism B in its simplest form.
75 : 30
3 : 7.5
5:2
3:1
6. The length of a table is 3.9 m; the length of the table is 3 times its width. The width of the table on the diagram is 20 cm.
Calculate the ratio of the length of real table to the length of the diagram table. Give your answer in the form n : m where n and m are
integers.
130 : 25
5 : 26
25 : 130
26 : 5
Scale maths GCSE questions
1. A map has a scale of 1 cm represents 60 m. Show answer
(a) Write this scale as a ratio in its simplest form.
The distance between two shops on the map is 3.8 cm.
(b) What is the actual distance between the shops?
(4 marks)

2. (a) A car wheel has a diameter of 44 cm. A model car wheel has a radius of 2.75 cm. Show answer
Calculate the scale ratio of the model to the real life car. Write your answer in its simplest form.
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(b) The height of the car is 1.3 metres. Calculate the height of the model car in centimetres.
(5 marks)
3. Use the graph below to determine the scale of a map in the simplest form. Express both Show answer
values in the scale in centimetres.
(3 marks)
Learning checklist
You have now learned how to:
Use scale factors, scale diagrams and maps
Consolidate their understanding of ratio when comparing quantities, sizes and scale drawings by solving a variety of problems
Multiplying and dividing by powers of 10 in scale drawings or by multiplying and dividing by powers of a 1, 000 in converting
between units such as kilometres and metres
Solve problems involving similar shapes where the scale factor is known or can be found
The next lessons are

Best buy maths 
Units of measurement 
Flow rate 
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In order to access this I need to be confident with:
Place value
Ratio scale
How to work out ratio
Enlargement
Metric units of measurement
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What is scale maths?

Scale maths is a way of enlarging an object.

Let’s look at this example,

Length scale factor

The length scale factor can be calculated by comparing two lengths.

We can compare the length of A with the length of B.

This gives the ratio 3 : 6 which simplifies to 1 : 2.

The length scale factor from A to B is 2.

Area scale factor

The area scale factor can be calculated by comparing two areas.

Area B = 6cm × 6cm = 36cm2

The area scale factor from A to B is 4.

Volume scale factor

The volume scale factor can be calculated by comparing two volumes.

Volume A = 3cm × 3cm × 3cm = 27cm2

Volume B = 6cm × 6cm × 6cm = 216cm2

This gives the ratio 27 : 216 which simplifies to 1 : 8.

The volume scale factor from A to B is 4.

In the above example,

Scale factor for length = 2

Scale factor for area = 22 =4

Scale factor for volume = 23 =8

Step-by-step guide: Scale diagram

What is scale maths?

Writing this as a ratio we get 1 square: 2m.

cookies and how to manage or change your cookie settings. Accept

4 × 2 = 8m so the living room is 8m wide.

Step-by-step guide: Scale drawing

How to use scale maths

In order to calculate the actual / real life distance from a scale:

1 State the scale of the enlargement as a ratio in the form 1 : n.

2 Multiply n by the length given from the model.

3 Write the units.

In order to calculate the model length from a scale:

1 Divide the real life distance by the map scale ratio.

2 Write the units.

In order to calculate a ratio from a scale diagram:

1 Identify two lines that are mathematically similar.

2 Express the lengths as a ratio A : B.

3 Simplify the ratio.

Explain how to calculate the model length from a scale

Explain how to calculate a ratio from a scale diagram

Scale maths worksheet

Scale maths examples

Example 1: map (find the actual distance)

1 State the scale of the enlargement as a ratio in the form 1 : n.

3 Write the units.

Example 2: plan of a structure (find the actual distance)

1 State the scale of the enlargement as a ratio in the form 1 : n.

2 Multiply n by the length given from the model.

3 Write the units.

Example 3: map of the UK (find the model length)

1 Divide the real life distance by the map scale ratio.

Now we can calculate the length on the map.

2 Write the units.

Example 4: floor plan (find the model length)

1 Divide the real life distance by the map scale ratio.

cookies and how to manage or change your cookie settings. Accept

We also can convert 8.7m to centimetres by multiplying it by 100.

2 Write the units.

Example 5: 2D polygon (calculate the ratio)

1 Identify two lines that are mathematically similar.

2 Express the lengths as a ratio A : B.

Scale Maths - GCSE Maths - Steps, Examples & Worksheet

Scale Maths - GCSE Maths - Steps, Examples & Worksheet