Making a Scale Model

Chapter 7 Making a Scale Model

In this section we will learn about using ratios to build a scale model.

Aunty Malanai is building a scale model of the waʻa Kānehūnāmoku. The original dimensions of the Kānehūnāmoku are:

Aunty Malanai wants to make sure the mast on her scale model is

10

ft long. To maintain the proportions, what should be the lengths of the other dimensions on her scale model?

Let’s denote the lengths of the dimensions on Aunty Malanai’s scale model as:

We know that the original mast length is

25

ft, and the new mast length for the scale model should be

10

ft. This gives us a ratio:

\frac{Mast (Model)}{Mast} = \frac{m}{25} = \frac{10}{25}

Solving for

m,

we get:

m = \frac{10}{25} \times 25 = 10 ft

So, on Aunty Malanai’s scale model, the mast should be

10

ft long.

To maintain proportions, we can set up ratios for the other dimensions as well:

\frac{Spar (Model)}{Spar} = \frac{s}{29}

\frac{Boom (Model)}{Boom} = \frac{b}{19}

\frac{Length (Model)}{Length} = \frac{l}{29}

\frac{Width (Model)}{Width} = \frac{w}{11}

Since we’ve already found that the Mast (Model) is

10

ft, we can use this information to calculate the other dimensions on Aunty Malanai’s scale model.

Scaling factor

10 is 40 percent of 25. Multiply all by 40 percent