Final answer:
To plot a property measuring 1200 feet by 2400 feet on an 18-inch by 24-inch sheet, convert the sheet dimensions to feet and calculate the scaling factor for both property dimensions. The more restrictive (smaller) scaling factor determines the scale, which in this case is 1:1200 to fit both dimensions on the sheet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question involves selecting an appropriate scale to plot a large property on a drawing sheet. To determine the scale, one needs to compare the actual dimensions of the property with the dimensions of the sheet.
Firstly, convert the sheet's dimensions from inches to feet to match the property's dimensions; 18 inches is 1.5 feet and 24 inches is 2 feet. The property measures 1200 feet by 2400 feet. For the scale, you want to find a number that you can multiply the dimensions of the property by that will result in a drawing that fits onto the sheet.
For the width, 1200 feet should be scaled down to fit within 1.5 feet. If we divide 1.5 feet by 1200 feet, we get a scaling factor of 0.00125 for the width. For the height, 2400 feet should be scaled down to 2 feet. This yields a scaling factor of 0.000833 for the length. The more restrictive scaling factor (i.e., the smaller one) is generally chosen to keep both the width and length on the sheet. Therefore, the appropriate scale for plotting would be 1 foot on the property to 0.000833 feet on the drawing sheet, which corresponds to 1:1200 scale.
The appropriate scaling ensures that the entire property can be accurately represented on the 18-inch by 24-inch sheet, proportionately reducing both dimensions to fit the drawing space.