What scale does a set of plans drawn in 1/4 inch = 1 foot represent in terms of actual size?

When plans are drawn to a scale of 1/4 inch = 1 foot, it indicates that every quarter inch on the drawing represents one full foot in reality. To understand this scale, it is helpful to convert the scale into a ratio that directly relates the drawing size to the actual size.

Since there are 12 inches in a foot, if 1/4 inch on the plans equals 1 foot, you can determine how many quarter inches fit into one foot. Specifically, there are 48 quarter inches in a foot (12 inches divided by 1/4 inch = 48). This means that the scale essentially compresses 48 feet of real-world distance into just 1 inch on the plans.

Thus, when considering the actual size represented by these plans, we can express this scale as a fractional relationship: 1/48. Therefore, plans drawn at a scale of 1/4 inch = 1 foot reflect an actual size that is 1/48 of the drawing size, which aligns perfectly with the option that states "1/48 actual size."

This understanding of scale is crucial for accurately interpreting architectural and construction drawings, ensuring that builders and stakeholders have a clear grasp of the dimensions involved in