Scaling Factor

A scaling factor is a number that adjusts the size or amount of something relative to its original value. It’s used to modify measurements or data by multiplying them, either enlarging or shrinking the original. For example, in maps, a scaling factor converts real-world distances into map distances. In calculations, it helps maintain proportions or relationships between variables. Essentially, it’s a tool that ensures changes or comparisons are consistent, allowing us to work with simplified or adjusted versions of complex data or sizes without losing their core relationships.