mittakaavan

Mittakaavan is the Finnish term for scale, the ratio that relates the size of a representation to the size of the real object. The concept is used across fields such as cartography, architecture, model making, and technical drawing to communicate proportion and level of detail.

Scales are typically written as a ratio (for example 1:100) or as a verbal description (for example "one unit equals one hundred units"). A larger scale, such as 1:50 or 1:100, shows more detail for a smaller area; a smaller scale, such as 1:50,000 or 1:1,000,000, shows a larger area with less detail. The choice of scale depends on how much area needs to be shown and how precisely measurements must be conveyed.

Conversions between real size and representation size follow simple rules: real_size = representation_size × scale, and representation_size = real_size ÷ scale. In maps and drawings, scale bars or grid lines help readers interpret measurements. Digital tools can adjust scale dynamically, but the underlying concept remains the same.

In Finnish usage, mittakaava (genitive mittakaavan) is a standard term in education and professional contexts for describing the proportion between a depicted form and its real-world counterpart.