# *: Scale Factor

<p class="callout info">**What**: Scale a vector  
**Why**: Computations to alter the length and direction of a vector  
**Time To Complete**: 1-3 hours</p>

#### [![cc.png](https://wiki.compclassnotes.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-05/scaled-1680-/cc.png)](https://wiki.compclassnotes.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-05/cc.png)

<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Multiply a vector by a numeral from the </span>**left**.

```
v  =  5.4 * {x,y};

show  v;

save as scale;
```

<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Multiply a vector by a numeral from the </span>**right**.

```
v  =   {x,y}*5.4;

show  v;

save as scale;
```

Output

```
"v" → {5.4*x, 5.4*y}
```

**u**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> ought to be a variable/symbol or a numeral. </span>**u**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> cannot be another vector.</span>

```
v  =  u * {a, b, c, d, e, f};

show  v;

save as scale;
```

Output

```
"v" → {a*u, b*u, c*u, d*u, e*u, f*u}
```