1. Lesson 6: Scale Drawings and Models
The floor plan below is an example of a scale drawing. A scale drawing is a diagram of an object in which the dimensions are in proportion to the actual dimensions of the object.
The scale on a scale drawing tells how the drawing’s dimensions and the actual dimensions are related. The scale “1 in. : 12 ft” means that 1 inch in the floor plan represents an actual distance of 12 feet.

2. Example 1 Using the Scale of A Map
Maps  Use the map of Maine to estimate the distance between the towns of China and New Sweden.
Solution From the map’s scale, 1 centimeter represents 65 kilometers. On the map, the distance between China and New Sweden is 4.5 centimeters. Find the distance in kilometers.

3. Example 2 Finding a Dimension on a scale model
White House  A scale model of the White House appears in Tobu World Square in Japan. The scale used is 1 : 25. The height of the main building of the White House is 85 feet. Find this height on the model.
Write and solve a proportion to find the height h of the main building of the model of the White House.

4. Example 3 Finding the Scale
Dinosaurs  A museum is creating a full-size Tyrannosaurus rex from a model. The model is 40 inches in length, from the nose to the tail. The resulting dinosaur will be 40 feet in length. What is the model’s scale?
Write a ratio. Make sure that both measures are in inches. Then simplify the fraction.
ANSWER The model’s scale is 1 : 12.

5. Your Turn
The model of the Eiffel Tower in Tobu World Square is 12 meters high. The scale used is 1 : Estimate the actual height of the Eiffel Tower.
On a map of Colorado, the distance from Rico to Lizard Head Pass on Route 145 is about 9.5 cm. From the map scale, 1 cm represents 2 km. Estimate the actual distance between the towns.
The caboose on a model train is 6.75 inches long. The full-size caboose is 36 feet. What is the model’s scale?