Scale factor

A scale factor is a number which scales, or multiplies, some quantity. In the equation y=Cx, C is the scale factor for x. C is also the coefficient of x, and may be called the constant of proportionality of y to x. For example, doubling distances corresponds to a scale factor of 2 for distance, while cutting a cake in half results in pieces with a scale factor of ½. The basic equation for it is image over preimage. In the field of measurements, the scale factor of an instrument is sometimes referred to as sensitivity.

See also

• Scale (ratio)
• Scale (map)
• Scales of scale models
• Scaling (geometry)
• Scalar (mathematics)
• Scaling in gravity
• Scaling in statistical estimation
• Scale factor (computer science)
• Scale factor (cosmology)
• Orthogonal coordinates
• online vclass talking about scale factor