Scale drawings
Scale drawing word problems
CCSS Math: 7.G.A.1
Use scale drawings to solve problems in real-world contexts.
Practice problem 1: Two figures
Problem 1
Figure A is a scale image of Figure B.
What is the value of x?
- Your answer should be
- an integer, like 6
- an exact decimal, like 0.75
- a simplified proper fraction, like 3/5
- a simplified improper fraction, like 7/4
- a mixed number, like 1 3/4
Explain
Practice problem 2: Map
Problem 2
Alexander is drawing a map of the Federal Triangle in Washington, D.C. The actual Federal Triangle has a base of 3000 feet and height of 1200 feet. Alexander needs his drawing to fit on his paper, so he decides to make the base of his triangle 10 inches.
What scale is Alexander using?
1 inch : feet
- Your answer should be
- an integer, like 6
- an exact decimal, like 0.75
- a simplified proper fraction, like 3/5
- a simplified improper fraction, like 7/4
- a mixed number, like 1 3/4
What is the height of Alexander's triangle in inches?
- Your answer should be
- an integer, like 6
- an exact decimal, like 0.75
- a simplified proper fraction, like 3/5
- a simplified improper fraction, like 7/4
- a mixed number, like 1 3/4
Explain
Practice problem 3: Scale model
Problem 3
Rena is building a 1:180 scale model of a real castle. Her model has a rectangular base that is 3 feet wide and 4 feet long.
What is the area of the base of the actual castle in square feet?
- Your answer should be
- an integer, like 6
- an exact decimal, like 0.75
- a simplified proper fraction, like 3/5
- a simplified improper fraction, like 7/4
- a mixed number, like 1 3/4
Explain
Practice problem 4: Moon challenge
Problem 4
The earth is approximately 8000 miles in diameter. The moon is approximately 2000 miles in diameter. The distance between the two is approximately 240,000 miles.
You build a two-dimensional scale model of the earth and moon. You use a circle with a diameter of 1 inch to model the moon.
In your model, what is the diameter of the earth in inches?
- Your answer should be
- an integer, like 6
- an exact decimal, like 0.75
- a simplified proper fraction, like 3/5
- a simplified improper fraction, like 7/4
- a mixed number, like 1 3/4
In your model, what is the distance between the moon and the earth in inches?
- Your answer should be
- an integer, like 6
- an exact decimal, like 0.75
- a simplified proper fraction, like 3/5
- a simplified improper fraction, like 7/4
- a mixed number, like 1 3/4
Explain