Final answer:
To find the actual length of a racecar when the scale model is 11 inches long with a scale factor of 1/12, you multiply the model length by 12 to get 132 inches, which is equivalent to 11 feet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scale factor of a model car to a racecar is 1/12. To find the length of the actual racecar when the model car is 11 inches long, we multiply the length of the model by the scale factor. This process is essentially reversing the scale factor to upscale from the model to the actual size.
Step-by-step calculation:
- Determine the scale factor, which is 1/12.
- Find the length of the model car, which is 11 inches.
- Multiply the length of the model car by the scale factor's reciprocal to find the actual length: 11 inches * 12/1 = 132 inches.
- Convert the actual length from inches to feet, since cars are usually measured in feet: 132 inches / 12 inches per foot = 11 feet.
The actual racecar is therefore 11 feet long.