Understanding the Scale Factor of 1/4: In mathematics, a scale factor is a number that scales, or multiplies, the dimensions of a figure. It is used in scaling transformations in geometry, where it determines how much larger or smaller an object will become in comparison to its original size. When the scale factor is a fraction, like 1/4, it indicates a reduction in size.
What Does a Scale Factor of 1/4 Mean?
When the scale factor is 1/4, each dimension of the original figure is reduced by one-fourth. In other words, every length, width, and height of the figure is multiplied by 1/4. The result is a new figure that is proportionally smaller but maintains the same shape as the original figure.
Example 1: Scaling a Line Segment
Imagine you have a line segment that is 12 cm long. If you apply a scale factor of 1/4, you would reduce its length by multiplying by 1/4:
New length = 12cm × 1/4 = 3cm
So, the new length of the line segment after scaling is 3 cm.
Example 2: Scaling a Rectangle
Consider a rectangle with a width of 8 cm and a height of 6 cm. Applying a scale factor of 1/4 to both dimensions:
New width = 8cm × 1/4 = 2cm
New height = 6cm ×1/4 = 1.5 cm
After scaling, the dimensions of the rectangle are now 2 cm by 1.5 cm.
Example 3: Scaling a 3D Object (Cube)
Suppose you have a cube with an edge length of 16 cm. Scaling it by 1/4 reduces each edge:
New edge length = 16cm × 1/4 = 4 cm
Since all edges of a cube are scaled by 1/4, the new cube is still a cube, but its volume will change significantly. Volume is calculated as:
Original volume = 163 = 4096 cm3
New volume = 43 = 64 cm3
So, the volume decreases dramatically, shrinking to 64 cubic centimeters from the original 4096 cubic centimeters.
Properties of Scaling with a Factor of 1/4
- Reduction in Size: A scale factor of 1/4 always reduces the size of a shape or object by 75%.
- Proportional Change: All dimensions of the object are reduced in the same proportion. The shape remains identical, but smaller.
- Effect on Area and Volume: The area of a 2D figure scales by the square of the scale factor (1/4)2 = 1/16, while the volume of a 3D figure scales by the cube of the scale factor (1/4)3 = 1/64.
Conclusion
A scale factor of 1/4 is a way to reduce the size of a shape or object while keeping its proportions intact. Whether applied to a line, a rectangle, or a 3D shape like a cube, the figure’s size decreases in a predictable manner, affecting its linear dimensions, area, and volume accordingly. Understanding how scale factors work, especially fractional ones, is crucial in geometry, model building, and many practical applications.