It usually involves some kind of dividing. Take a basic problem like n x 5 = 45, where n is the unknown factor. Divide both sides of the equation by 5 so that n stands alone. 45 divided by 5 is 9, so n = 9
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divide the known factor into the product if stated x times 8 = 72 x = 72 divided by 8 x = 9
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Often when working a problem with a scale factor, you are given two similar shapes, and a missing side. For example, you could be given a rectangle with sides A: 3 units and side B: 9 units. Then, you are given another similar rectangle, with side A: 6 units and side B: unknown. To solve this problem, you can simply create a proportion, known in this case as a scale factor. Similar to using a map to predict travel times on a road trip, you can simply create a proportion, in this case, 6:3, which simplifies to 2:1. In this case, the scale factor is 2, so the length of a similar side in the 1st shape is multiplied by 2 to get the length of the same side in the other (2nd) shape. Knowing this side is 9 in the first, and the scale factor is two, we know that the similar side in the 2nd shape is going to be 9 x 2 = 18 units long.
Factors come in pairs. If you know one factor, divide it into the number. The answer will be another factor.