# Scale factor

﻿
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.

Computer Science

Scale factors are used in computer science when certain real world numbers need to be represented on a different scale in order to fit a required number format. See Scale Factor (Computer Science).

Geometry

A factor can be used to scale shapes in 1, 2, or 3 dimensions (and conceptually even more.) There are a few interesting properties of scaling which are relevant:
*The length of a line that is scaled is the previous length times the scale factor. In other words:$L_1 = L_0 cdot c$.
*The area of a shape in two-space (a circle, for example) is equal to the previous area times the square of the scale factor. In other words:$A_1 = A_0 cdot c^2$.
*The volume of a shape in three-space is equal to the cube of the scale factor times the initial volume. In other words:$V_1 = V_0 cdot c^3$.
*The scale factor also scales the coordinates of the centroid of a shape.
*The inverse of scaling a shape is scaling it again, with the reciprocal of the first factor.

ee also

* Scale (ratio)
* Scale (map)
* Scales of scale models
* Scale (disambiguation)
* Scaling (geometry)
* Scalar (mathematics)
*
* Scaling in statistical estimation
* Scale factor (Universe)

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

### Look at other dictionaries:

• scale factor — noun a number used as a multiplier in scaling • Hypernyms: ↑multiplier, ↑multiplier factor • Hyponyms: ↑time scale factor …   Useful english dictionary

• scale factor — mastelio koeficientas statusas T sritis automatika atitikmenys: angl. scale factor; scaling parameter; scaling ratio vok. Skalierungsfaktor, m rus. коэффициент масштабирования, m pranc. facteur de mise à l échelle, m …   Automatikos terminų žodynas

• scale factor — mastelio daugiklis statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. scale factor vok. Skalenfaktor, m rus. масштабный множитель, m pranc. facteur d’échelle, m …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

• scale factor — Смотри масштабный фактор …   Энциклопедический словарь по металлургии

• Scale factor (computer science) — A scale factor is used in computer science when a real world set of numbers needs to be represented on a different scale in order to fit a specific number format. For instance, a 16 bit unsigned integer ( uint16 ) can only hold a value as large… …   Wikipedia

• Scale factor (cosmology) — The scale factor or cosmic scale factor parameter of the Friedmann equations is a function of time which represents the relative expansion of the universe. It is sometimes called the Robertson Walker scale factor.[1] It is the (time dependent)… …   Wikipedia

• Scale factor (Universe) — The scale factor, parameter of Friedmann Lemaître Robertson Walker model, is a function of time which represents the relative expansion of the universe. It relates physical coordinates (also called proper coordinates) to comoving coordinates.: L …   Wikipedia

• Scale factor method — Метод масштабных коэффициентов …   Краткий толковый словарь по полиграфии

• time-scale factor — noun the ratio of the simulation time to the time of the real process • Topics: ↑simulation, ↑computer simulation • Hypernyms: ↑scale factor …   Useful english dictionary

• Scale space — theory is a framework for multi scale signal representation developed by the computer vision, image processing and signal processing communities with complementary motivations from physics and biological vision. It is a formal theory for handling …   Wikipedia