Final answer:
To make a model locomotive to scale, the width should be calculated using the scale factor derived from the length. The actual locomotive's size was converted to inches, and the scale factor was applied to find the proportional width of the model, which is approximately 3.54 inches.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question requires us to apply scale factor knowledge to a real-world scenario involving making a model locomotive. Since the actual locomotive is 56 feet long and 11 feet wide, and the model is 18 inches long, we can find the scale factor and then apply it to find the required width of the model in inches.
To find the scale factor, we first convert the actual length of the locomotive to inches:
56 feet x 12 inches/foot = 672 inches.
Now we have the scale factor as the ratio of the model's length to the actual length:
18 inches (model length) / 672 inches (actual length) = 1 / 37.33 (approximate scale factor).
Using this scale factor, we can then calculate the width that the model should be:
11 feet x 12 inches/foot = 132 inches (actual width),
132 inches / 37.33 = 3.54 inches (approximate model width).
Therefore, the scale model's width should be approximately 3.54 inches to maintain the correct proportions.