Question

4) A scale model of a train is being made. The

actual train is 5 meters tall, 27 meters long and 3
meters wide. If the scale model is 40.5
centimeters long, how wide is the scale model?

Answer 1

Explanation:

in any scale model (2D as in a map, or 3D as in such a train model) the scale factor is the same for all dimensions.

so, when find the scale factor for one dimension, we can use it to calculate the others.

in our case we get both measurements of the length :

27 meters to 40.5 cm = 0.405 meters.

remember : 1 meter = 100 centimeters

so, to get from large to small, the scaling factor is

0.405/27 = 0.015/1 = 0.015

and so, to get the model width :

3 × 0.015 = 0.045 meters = 4.5 cm (centimeters)

the model is 4.5 centimeters wide.