Magnification

Magnification is how many times larger an image is than the object. 

For example, here the image is 1,000 larger than the object, so its magnification is x 1,000.

Resolution

Resolution is the ability to distinguish between two separate points (or how detailed the image is). 

For example, both images here have the same magnification, but the left image has a higher resolution.

Calculating magnification

To calculate magnification, you need to know the image size and the object size:

• Image size - How large the object appears when you view it through a microscope.
• Object size (actual size) - The real size of the object.

The equation for calculating magnification is:

$\text{magnification }=\frac{\text{image size}}{\text{object size}}$

When calculating magnification, all lengths must be in the same unit. This may require converting from one unit to another.