Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 6
Math 6 Unit 6 Scale Factor
Dear Parents,
Below are examples of what your child is learning in Unit 6, Scale Factor.
Scale Factor
Students will be able to:
 Select and use appropriate units to measure length, perimeter,
area, and volume. to another in the same system of
measurement.
1 1 1
1
 Measure lengths to the nearest , , , and
inch.
2 4 8
16
 Convert one unit of measure
 Use ratio, proportion, and scale factor to describe relationships
between similar figures.
 Interpret and create scale drawings.
 Solve problems using scale factors, ratios, and proportions.
Resources:
Mathematics Course 1 by Holt:
 Chapter 9 Lessons 1-5
 Chapter 10 Lessons 1-5
 Chapter 7 Lessons 3-6
Online:
Go.hrw.com
www.funbrain.com/funbrain/measure/
http://rickyspears.com/rulergame/
http://www.teachingmeasures.co.uk/menu.
html
VOCABULARY
Dimensions: The measure of the magnitude of size of an object.
Proportion: An equation which states that two ratios are equal.
Ratio: A comparison of two quantities that have the same unit of measure.
Scale Drawings: Drawings that represent relative sizes and placements of real objects or
places.
Scale Factor: The ratio of corresponding lengths of the sides of two similar figures.
Similar Figures: Figures that have the same shape but not necessarily the same size.
Unit: A fixed amount that is used as a standard of measurement.
Try: http://intermath.coe.uga.edu for additional help.
Ways Parents Can Help
Here are some activities you and your student can do together:
 Practice measuring large and small items using both metric and customary measurement.
For example, measure the dimensions of a room or the dimensions of a book.
 Choose 2 rectangular prisms like cereal and cracker boxes. Predict which box has the
greater volume. Then, measure the length, width, and height of each box to find the volume
(V=l x w x h).
 Calculate the distance to nearby cities using a map and its scale.
 Compare a toy such as a car or a dollhouse to the actual object it represents. Is the toy a
scale model? What is its scale factor?
Student Practice
Examples:
1. Amir is 1.6 meters tall. How tall is he in centimeters?
2. How long is the pencil below? Measure to the nearest ½ inch. Then, measure to the nearest 1/8 inch.
3. Anna’s living room floor is a rectangle 12 feet by 15 feet. How many feet of baseboard will she need to go
around the room? How many square feet of carpeting will she need to cover the floor? If the room is 10 feet
high, how many cubic feet of air will it hold?
4. Brad’s living room is similar to Anna’s but its longest dimension is only 9 feet. What are the other
dimensions of the room? Draw a scale model of Brad’s living room.
5. Below is a scale drawing of Carlo’s living room. If the scale factor is 1in.: 12 feet, how many cubic feet of air
will Carlo’s living room hold?
Sample answers to examples:
xcm. 100cm
1.
=
X=100 x 1.6= 160cm
1.6m
1m
2. The pencil measures about 4 7/16 inches. The nearest ½ inch would be 4 ½ in. The nearest 1/8 inch would be 4 3/8
or 4 4/8 in.
3. 12+15+12+15= 54 feet of baseboard; 12 x 15= 180 sq.ft. of carpet; 12 x 15 x 10= 1800 cu.ft. of air.
4.
Brad ' slongestside 9 ft
w Brad ' sshortestside
:
=
Anna ' slongestside 15 ft 12 ft Anna ' sshortestside
w= 12 x 9 / 15= 7.2ft.
Brad ' slongestside 9 ft
h Brad ' sheight
:
=
h= 10 x 9 / 15= 6ft.
Anna ' slongestside 15 ft 10 ft Anna ' sheight
5. The dimensions of the scale drawing are: 1 ¼ by 7/8 by 9/16 inches.
12 ft
xft
=
x= 1 ¼ x 12= 15ft
1in 11/ 4in
12 ft
yft
=
1in 7 / 8in
y= 7/8 x 12= 10.5ft
12 ft
zft
=
z= 9/16 x 12= 6 ¾ ft. V= 15 x 10.5 x 6 ¾ = 1063.13 cu. Ft.
1in 9 /16in