GED Mathematical Reasoning TestQuantitative Problem Solving with MeasurementMedium
A designer is creating a scaled-down model of a building. The actual building is 60 meters tall, and the model is 1.5 meters tall. If a window on the actual building is 4 meters wide, how wide should the corresponding window on the model be?
- A0.1 meters
- B0.25 meters
- C0.2 meters
- D0.15 meters
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. 0.1 meters
First, find the scale factor: Model height / Actual height = 1.5 m / 60 m = 1/40. Then apply this scale factor to the actual window width: 4 meters * (1/40) = 4/40 = 1/10 = 0.1 meters.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Incorrect application of the scale factor or calculation error (4 / 16 = 0.25, suggesting a scale factor of 1/16).
- C. Incorrect application of the scale factor or calculation error.
- D. Incorrect application of the scale factor or calculation error.
Scale Factor
The ratio by which all dimensions of an object are multiplied to create a scaled copy.
- Calculated as (new dimension) / (original dimension).
- A scale factor less than 1 indicates a reduction; greater than 1 indicates an enlargement.
- Used to find corresponding lengths in similar figures or models.
Memory trick: Scale factor is the 'magic number' that makes things bigger or smaller proportionally.