ratioProportion · Year 6 · Suggested learning sequence
Scale drawings and map scales
A scale like 1 : 100 means 1 cm on the drawing stands for 100 cm in real life. To find a real length, multiply the drawn length by the scale number. The answer is in the same unit as the drawing, usually centimetres, so convert it: 100 cm = 1 m and 100 000 cm = 1 km. To go from real life to the map, convert to centimetres first, then divide by the scale number.
Sample questions
A scale drawing uses the scale 1 : 25. A bed is drawn 10 cm long. How long is the real bed, in centimetres?
- The scale 1 : 25 means 1 cm on the drawing stands for 25 cm in real life.
- 10 × 25 = 250.
- The real bed is 250 cm long.
Answer: 250
A scale drawing uses the scale 1 : 50. A bed is drawn 6 cm long. How long is the real bed, in centimetres?
- The scale 1 : 50 means 1 cm on the drawing stands for 50 cm in real life.
- 6 × 50 = 300.
- The real bed is 300 cm long.
Answer: 300
A scale drawing uses the scale 1 : 25. A cupboard is drawn 8 cm long. How long is the real cupboard, in centimetres?
- The scale 1 : 25 means 1 cm on the drawing stands for 25 cm in real life.
- 8 × 25 = 200.
- The real cupboard is 200 cm long.
Answer: 200