What is the procedure to interpret a 1:25 scale drawing?

To interpret a 1:25 scale drawing, multiply the drawing measurements by 25 to find the real-life dimensions.

When you have a scale drawing with a ratio of 1:25, it means that every unit of measurement on the drawing represents 25 units in real life. For example, if a length on the drawing is 2 cm, the actual length would be 2 cm multiplied by 25, which equals 50 cm. This scale is commonly used in architectural and engineering drawings to represent large objects on a smaller, more manageable piece of paper.

To interpret the drawing accurately, first identify the units used in the drawing (e.g., centimetres, millimetres). Measure the length, width, or height of the object on the drawing using a ruler. Once you have the measurement, multiply it by 25 to convert it to the real-life size. For instance, if a wall in the drawing measures 3 cm, the actual wall would be 3 cm × 25 = 75 cm in real life.

It's also important to remember that this scale applies to all dimensions in the drawing. So, if you are looking at an area or volume, you need to apply the scale factor to each dimension before calculating the area or volume. For example, if a room's floor plan measures 4 cm by 5 cm on the drawing, the real-life dimensions would be 4 cm × 25 = 100 cm and 5 cm × 25 = 125 cm.

Understanding how to interpret scale drawings is a valuable skill in many fields, including architecture, engineering, and design, and it helps ensure that the real-life construction matches the planned design accurately.