# Math Questions...NOT DRAWN TO SCALE

• November 14th 2008, 05:16 PM
magentarita
Math Questions...NOT DRAWN TO SCALE
I often see the words NOT DRAWN TO SCALE referring to math questions.

What exactly does that mean?

Is there a much easier way of saying the same thing?

Thanks
• November 14th 2008, 06:07 PM
Soroban
Hello, magentarita!

Quote:

I often see the words not drawn to scale.
What exactly does that mean?

Suppose they gave us $\Delta ABC$ with: . $AB = 10,\;BC = 12,\;AC = 5$

And suppose they supplied this diagram:
Code:

```                  A                   *                 *  *           10 *    * 5             *        *           *          *         *              *     B *  *  *  *  *  *  * C               12```

It is only a rough sketch . . . It is not "drawn to scale."

$AB = 10$ does not look like it is twice $AC = 5$, does it?

It gives an idea of what the triangle looks like.
. .
$AC$ is the shortest side and $BC$ is the longest side.

But I wouldn't guess the size of the angles from that diagram.
. . It looks like $\angle A$ is acute, but actually it's about 101°.

• November 15th 2008, 06:04 AM
magentarita
I see......
Quote:

Originally Posted by Soroban
Hello, magentarita!

Suppose they gave us $\Delta ABC$ with: . $AB = 10,\;BC = 12,\;AC = 5$

And suppose they supplied this diagram:
Code:

```                  A                   *                 *  *           10 *    * 5             *        *           *          *         *              *     B *  *  *  *  *  *  * C               12```
It is only a rough sketch . . . It is not "drawn to scale."

$AB = 10$ does not look like it is twice $AC = 5$, does it?

It gives an idea of what the triangle looks like.
. . $AC$ is the shortest side and $BC$ is the longest side.

But I wouldn't guess the size of the angles from that diagram.
. . It looks like $\angle A$ is acute, but actually it's about 101°.

I see what you mean.