gen-define-scale-on-a-map-and-give-one-short-worked-example-57f4

Define scale on a map and give one short worked example.

# Scale on a Map **Definition:** Scale is the ratio between a distance on a map and the corresponding actual distance on the ground. It shows how much the real world has been reduced to fit on the map. Scale can be expressed three ways: - **Ratio/Representative Fraction**: 1:50,000 or 1/50,000 - **Word Statement**: "1 cm represents 500 m" - **Graphic/Bar Scale**: A line marked with distances ## Worked Example **Question:** On a map with scale 1:25,000, two towns are 8 cm apart. What is the actual distance between them? **Solution:** - Scale 1:25,000 means 1 cm on map = 25,000 cm in reality - Distance on map = 8 cm - Actual distance = 8 × 25,000 = 200,000 cm - Converting: 200,000 cm = 2,000 m = **2 km** **Answer:** The actual distance between the towns is 2 kilometers.