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. Show
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 mapA map usually has a graph with a grid, a key, a compass and a map scale.  Reading the scale of a mapA 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 distance on 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 scaleThe 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. Not all maps are the same but the most commonly found types of maps use a ratio of 1:125000 which means that one unit on the map represents 125000 ground units. When we convert 125000 cm to meters we get 1250 m and when we convert it to kilometres we get 1.25 km. We can then say that 1 cm on a map with a scale of 1:125000 represents 1.25 km in real life (km is a more suitable unit for ground measurement). Just like that 1 cm on a 1:50,000 scale map will represent 50000 cm or 500 m or 0.5 km. Explorer maps usually have a scale of 1:25000 which means that 1 cm on the map represents 25000 cm in real-life or can also be represented as 1 cm = 25000 cm. 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’s the 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?A small scale refers to a map scale in 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?A large scale map is one 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?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 packMaps at different scales1:25001:50001:250001:500001:1000001:2000001:5000001:1 millionWhat 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 mapsThere are four types of map scales
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? For unit conversion: 1 mile = 63360 inches Problem 1If 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, To convert to km divide by 1000, Problem 2If 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. 6000000 cm in real = 6000000 / 50000 Problem 3John 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. The distance from John’s house to London Zoo is 5 km. For more questions like these get the learning app ProportionThe 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 worksheetsMore reading
What are the 3 types of map scales?There are three types of scales commonly used on maps: written or verbal scale, a graphic scale, or a fractional scale. A written or verbal scale uses words to describe the relationship between the map and the landscape it depicts such as one inch represents one mile.
How is a ratio scale used to determine distance on a map?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. Ground distances on maps are usually given in feet or miles.
Which scale is used to measure distance on the map?For those maps, use the bar scale located at the bottom of the map to measure the distance from one place to another.
What is large scale map and small scale map?Large scale maps are typically used to show site plans, local areas, neighborhoods, towns etc. 1:2,500 is an example of a large scale. A 'small' scale map is one in which a given part of the Earth is represented by a small area on the map.
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