1. What is Rectangle Scaling?

Rectangle scaling is the process of uniformly changing the dimensions of a rectangle by multiplying its length and width by a scale factor (k). This maintains the rectangle's proportions while changing its size.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the scaling formula:

Where:

• \( \text{length\_old} \) — Original length measurement
• \( k \) — Scale factor (unitless)
• \( \text{length\_new} \) — Resulting scaled length

Explanation: The scale factor (k) determines how much the rectangle's dimensions will change. A factor >1 enlarges the rectangle, while a factor between 0 and 1 shrinks it.

3. Importance of Scaling

Details: Scaling is fundamental in geometry, computer graphics, architecture, and engineering design. It allows for proportional resizing of objects while maintaining their shape characteristics.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the original length in any units and the scale factor (must be positive). The result will be in the same units as the original length.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What happens if the scale factor is 1?
A: The rectangle remains unchanged as multiplying by 1 preserves the original dimensions.

Q2: Can I scale width and height differently?
A: This calculator assumes uniform scaling. For non-uniform scaling, you would need separate scale factors for width and height.

Q3: How does scaling affect area?
A: Area scales by the square of the scale factor (k²). For example, doubling dimensions (k=2) quadruples the area.

Q4: What are practical applications of scaling?
A: Scaling is used in map making, model building, image resizing, architectural blueprints, and many other fields.

Q5: Can I use negative scale factors?
A: Mathematically possible but not physically meaningful for most applications, as it would create an inverted image.