SCALE command in AutoCAD - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the command to start scaling an object in AutoCAD.

AutoCAD

Type [1] and press Enter to begin scaling.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AROTATE

BCOPY

CSCALE

DMOVE

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Typing MOVE instead of SCALE

Using ROTATE which changes angle, not size

The SCALE command is used to resize objects in AutoCAD.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the step to select the base point for scaling.

AutoCAD

After starting SCALE, select the [1] point to scale from.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Areference

Bbase

Cend

Dcenter

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Choosing center point instead of base point

Selecting a random point not related to scaling

The base point is the fixed point from which the object scales.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the scale factor input to double the size.

AutoCAD

Enter scale factor as [1] to double the object size.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A0.5

B1

C-2

D2

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 0.5 which halves the size

Entering negative numbers which are invalid

A scale factor of 2 doubles the size of the object.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to scale an object by reference.

AutoCAD

After selecting base point, type R for [1] and then enter the [2] length.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AReference

BDistance

CRadius

DDiameter

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Confusing Reference with Radius or Diameter

Entering radius instead of distance

Using Reference allows scaling by specifying a new distance.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to scale an object using a reference length.

AutoCAD

Select base point, type [1] to use reference, enter current length [2], then enter new length [3].

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AR

B10

C20

DS

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using S instead of R for reference

Swapping current and new lengths

R activates reference scaling, 10 is current length, 20 is new length.

Practice

1.

What does the SCALE command do in AutoCAD?

easy

A. Changes the size of an object by a scale factor

B. Rotates an object around a point

C. Moves an object to a new location

D. Deletes an object from the drawing

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of SCALE command

   The SCALE command is used to change the size of objects in AutoCAD by applying a scale factor.

2. Step 2: Compare with other commands

   Rotation changes orientation, Move changes position, Delete removes objects. Only SCALE changes size.

3. Final Answer:

   Changes the size of an object by a scale factor -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   SCALE changes size = A [OK]

Hint: SCALE changes size, not position or rotation [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing SCALE with MOVE or ROTATE
• Thinking SCALE deletes objects
• Assuming SCALE changes object color

2.

Which of the following is the correct syntax to start the SCALE command in AutoCAD?

SCALE

easy

A. Type SCL and press Enter

B. Type SCAL and press Enter

C. Type S and press Enter

D. Type SCALE and press Enter

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the exact command name

   The correct command to scale objects is SCALE.

2. Step 2: Verify command abbreviations

   AutoCAD does not recognize SCL, SCAL, or S as SCALE command shortcuts.

3. Final Answer:

   Type SCALE and press Enter -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Correct command name = C [OK]

Hint: Use full command SCALE to avoid errors [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using incomplete command names
• Assuming abbreviations work without confirmation
• Typing commands with typos

3.

You select a square with side length 10 units and use the SCALE command with a scale factor of 0.5 and base point at one corner. What will be the new side length?

medium

A. 10 units

B. 5 units

C. 15 units

D. 20 units

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand scale factor effect

   A scale factor less than 1 reduces size proportionally. Here, 0.5 halves the size.

2. Step 2: Calculate new side length

   Original side length 10 units x 0.5 = 5 units.

3. Final Answer:

   5 units -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   10 x 0.5 = 5 [OK]

Hint: Multiply original size by scale factor [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using scale factor as additive instead of multiplicative
• Ignoring base point effect on size
• Confusing scale factor greater than 1 with reduction

4.

What is wrong with this sequence when using the SCALE command?
SCALE -> Select object -> Specify base point -> Enter scale factor as 0 -> Press Enter

medium

A. Scale factor cannot be zero

B. Base point must be at origin

C. Object must be selected after scale factor

D. Scale factor must be negative

Solution

1. Step 1: Check scale factor validity

   Scale factor zero means object size becomes zero, which is invalid in AutoCAD.

2. Step 2: Review other options

   Base point can be anywhere, object selection order is correct, scale factor must be positive (not negative).

3. Final Answer:

   Scale factor cannot be zero -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Scale factor > 0 required = A [OK]

Hint: Scale factor must be positive and not zero [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using zero or negative scale factors
• Assuming base point must be origin
• Selecting objects after scale factor

5.

You want to enlarge a circle by 150% but keep its center fixed. Which steps correctly use the SCALE command?

Choose the correct sequence:

1. Select the circle
2. Specify base point
3. Enter scale factor

hard

A. Select circle -> Specify any point as base point -> Enter 1.5 as scale factor

B. Select circle -> Specify any point as base point -> Enter 0.5 as scale factor

C. Select circle -> Specify center as base point -> Enter 1.5 as scale factor

D. Select circle -> Specify center as base point -> Enter 0.5 as scale factor

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify base point to keep fixed

   To keep the circle center fixed, specify the center as the base point.

2. Step 2: Use correct scale factor for enlargement

   150% enlargement means scale factor 1.5 (greater than 1).

3. Final Answer:

   Select circle -> Specify center as base point -> Enter 1.5 as scale factor -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Center fixed + scale 1.5 = D [OK]

Hint: Use center as base point and scale >1 to enlarge [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using scale factor less than 1 to enlarge
• Choosing wrong base point causing shift
• Confusing scale factor percentage with decimal