How to understand map scales?

The map scale is printed in the map legend. It is given as a ratio of inches on the map corresponding to inches, feet, or miles on the ground . For example, a map scale indicating a ratio of 1:24,000 (in/in), means that for every 1 inch on the map, 24,000 inches have been covered on the ground.

What is the scale on a map is 1 50 000?

A scale of 1 : 50 000 is used on many Ordnance Survey maps. This means that 1 cm on the map represents an actual distance of 50 000 cm (or 500 m or 0.5 km). We saw above that if a map has a scale of 1 : 50000, then 1 cm on the map is 50000 cm in real life.

How to calculate a scale?

To find the scale factor, first find the corresponding sides on the two figures. Then, divide the measurement of the new figure by the measurement of the original figure . The resulting value is your scale factor, or how many times larger or smaller your new figure is compared to the original.

What are the 3 ways to show scale on a map?

Map or cartographic scale is the ratio of a distance on Earth compared to the same distance on a map. There are three types of scales commonly used on maps: written or verbal scale, a graphic scale, or a fractional scale .

How to tell if a map is large or small scale?

Basically, a small-scale map covers a larger geographic region such as the world; whereas, a large-scale map covers a relatively small geographic area , such as a 7.5' quadrangle map. The confusing nature of this terminology can be explained by examining the precise meaning of two fractional scales.

How to convert between map scales?

Remember that a map scale is a ratio of distance on map to distance on ground, using same units . So 1:24,000 means 1” (inch) on the map equals 24,000” on the ground; then just convert 24,000” to feet: 24,0000” x 1ft/12” = 2,000 ft or, 1” = 2,000′.

What is the formula for actual distance on a map scale?

You just have to multiply distances on the map by the scale factor to get real distances, or divide real distances by the scale factor to get map distances . 4 cm times 5000 is 20000 cm. 600 m divided by 5000 is 0.120 m. It's that easy.

What is a good scale for a map?

For finer detail and only looking at a small area at a time then a 1:25,000 scale map is about as detailed as you would want it to be. This will show individual boundary lines, smaller crags and rockfaces and areas of different ground vegetation and even bogs.

What is the best map scale for walking?

Maps are made at different scales for different purposes. The 1:25 000 scale map is very useful for walking, but if you use it in a car you will quickly drive off the edge! On the other hand, maps at 1:250 000 scale (note the extra zero) show lots more area, but in far less detail.

What is the method of map scale?

Map scale refers to the relationship (or ratio) between distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground . For example, on a 1:100000 scale map, 1cm on the map equals 1km on the ground.

What is the formula for the scale of a drawing?

A scale is a ratio of a length in the drawing to the corresponding length in the actual object. To find the scale used in a drawing or model, divide the drawing length by the actual length .

What are the 3 ways a map scale can be expressed?

There are three primary ways to indicate scale on a map: a representative fraction (e.g., 1:24,000), a verbal scale (e.g., “One inch to the mile”), or a graphic scale bar .

Understanding map scale and how to solve map scale questions? (2024)

11+ Past Papers Bundle

Get your child prepared for the 11 plus with our practice papers. We have a wide range of past papers to help your child get ready for the test.

Explore Bundle

Map scale can be a bit confusing initially but once you understand what it represents and how to use it then it can become a very useful tool next time you go on a long trip.

A map is a minified version of the real-life representation of an area that shows the distances and other features of the terrain. In other words, the area is shrunk to fit on the paper. A map is usually drawn by a cartographer and they make the maps for specific purposes.

Contents

Elements of a map

A map usually has a graph with a grid, a key, a compass and a map scale.

Understanding map scale and how to solve map scale questions? (2)

Reading the scale of a map

A map scale is one of the most important elements of the map and helps the map user to calculate the distances between different points of interest. For example, a car traveller may be interested in finding out how far is the petrol station from the hotel. A map scale helps the map reader accurately translate the distance on the map to the corresponding distanceon the ground. Note that the map’s scale is more or less useless when showing maps covering very large areas of the ground, for example, a world map. It forces scale variation for very large areas.

There are three main ways a scale is indicated on a map:graphic scale (or bar scale), verbal scale, and representative fraction (RF) scale.

A bar scale shows the scale in graphical format. The actual length of the bar scale shows what length it represents in the real world.

A representative fraction scale of 1:10000 is the same scale as a verbal scale of 1 cm = 100 m.

For the purposes of this guide, we will not cover bar scales or verbal scales.

Definition of a scale

The scale is the ratio of the distance on the map to the distance on the ground and it shows what 1 cm on the map represents in the real world. In other words, it’s the comparison of distance on paper to the distance on the ground. To learn more about how to work out ratios read our article on ratios.

How do you read a map scale?

The map scales are represented by two numbers in the form of a ratio. The first number of the map scale is always one. It’sthe unit of measurement, usually in centimetres (cm). The second number is the actual ground distance in the same unit (cm).

What is a small scale map?

Understanding map scale and how to solve map scale questions? (3)

A small scale refers to a map scalein which large parts of the Earth’s surface is represented by a small area on the map. Small scale covers large parts of the Earth and as a result, cannot show detailed features. Small scale maps are usually used for the world map, continents etc. They show the larger geographic area of land in a small space.

A small scale map scales range from 1: 1,000,000 to 1: infinity.

What is a large scale map?

Understanding map scale and how to solve map scale questions? (4)

A large scale map isone in which a given part of the Earth is represented by a large area on the map. Large scale maps generally show more detail than small scale maps because at a large scale there is more space on the map in which to show features.

A large scale map scales range from 1 : 0 to 1: 600,000.

What is a medium scale map?

Understanding map scale and how to solve map scale questions? (5)

A medium-scale map is in between the small and large scale. For example, a map of a country.

A medium-scale map scales range from 1 : 600,000 to 1 : 2,000,000.

Download the practice worksheet pack

Download Map Scales Worksheet Pack 1

Maps at different scales

1:2500

Understanding map scale and how to solve map scale questions? (7)

1:5000

Understanding map scale and how to solve map scale questions? (8)

1:25000

Understanding map scale and how to solve map scale questions? (9)

1:50000

Understanding map scale and how to solve map scale questions? (10)

1:100000

Understanding map scale and how to solve map scale questions? (11)

1:200000

Understanding map scale and how to solve map scale questions? (12)

1:500000

Understanding map scale and how to solve map scale questions? (13)

1:1 million

Understanding map scale and how to solve map scale questions? (14)

What does 1 250000 mean on a map?

The is a representative fraction of a simple ratio of the map to the ground in the same units but the units are not written. This is a larger scale than 1 12000.

1: 250000 means that 1 cm on the map represents 250000 cm on the ground.

What does 1 12000 mean on a map?

The is a representative fraction of a simple ratio of the map to the ground in the same units but the units are not written.

1: 12000 means that 1 cm on the map represents 12000 cm on the ground.

What does 1 10000 mean on a map?

The is a representative fraction of a simple ratio of the map to the ground in the same units but the units are not written.

1: 10000 means that 1 cm on the map represents 10000 cm on the ground.

Understanding map scales on historical maps

There are four types of map scales

A lexical scale – written in words like one inch to 500 miles or 1 inch = 500 miles.
A ratio scale – written as comparison like 1:50000.
A bar scale – shown graphically
A fraction or RF – written as 1/50000.

Historical maps used lexical scales which is now obsolete.

What does a lexical scale of 1 inch = 500 miles mean on a historical map?

It means that 1 inch on the map represents 500 miles on the ground.

A lexical scale of 1 inch = 1 mile is equivalent to 1:63360 ratio scale with inch as the unit.

Similarly, a lexical scale of 1 inch = 20 miles is equivalent to an inch ratio scale of 1:1250000.

What scale is a 25 inch map?

It is a 25 inch to a mile scale. Which means that 25 inches on the map represents 1 mile on the ground. In other words, 1 mile = 25 inch which is equivalent to 1:2535 ratio scale.

So how many miles is one inch on this map?
One inch on the map is equal to 0.04 miles on the ground.

For unit conversion: 1 mile = 63360 inches

Problem 1

If the scale of a map is 1:32000 then what will be the actual distance of 20 cm on the map?

Solution: The scale of 1:32000 means that 1 cm on the map represents 32000 cm on the ground. So, 20 cm on the map will be 20 times the scale value.

20 cm on the map = 20 x 32000 = 640000 cm

To convert to m divide by 100,
= 640000 / 100 = 6400 m

To convert to km divide by 1000,
= 6400 / 1000 = 6.4 km

Problem 2

If the scale of the map is 1:50000 then what will be the distance of 60 km on the map?

Solution: The scale 1:50000 means that 1 cm on the map represents 50000 cm in reality. First, convert km in cms.
To convert km to meters multiply by 1000 then to convert meters to centimetres multiply by 100.
So, 60 km in means 6000000 cm.

6000000 cm in real = 6000000 / 50000
= 600 / 5
= 120 cm on map

Problem 3

John measures the distance from London Zoo to his house as 20 cm on the map that is drawn on a scale of 1:25000. What is the real distance from Jonh’s house to the zoo?

Solution: The scale of 1:25000 means that 1 cm represents 25000 cm in reality. SO, 20 cm on the map would mean 20 x 25000 cm which is 500000 cm.

Let’s convert cm to km.
To convert cm to m we divide by 100.
= 500000 / 100 = 5000 m
To convert meters to kilometres we divide by 1000.
= 5000 / 1000 = 5 km

The distance from John’s house to London Zoo is 5 km.

For more questions like these get the learning app

Proportion

The scale of the map represents a direct proportion relationship which means that when one of the values increases then the other will also increase. It is useful to keep this in mind.

If the scale of the map is 1:25000 then it means that a distance of 1 cm on the map represents a distance of 25000 cm in reality. When you measure a distance on the map as 10 cm which is increased by a factor of 10 then you must expect that the real distance would also increase by the same factor.

The 10 cm on the map will represent 10 x 25000 = 250000 cm in real.

Download practice worksheets