Understanding how to change between different types of map scales can be a little confusing. But don't worry! With some practice, you can get the hang of it.
Let’s break down the three main types of scales you might see:
A ratio scale shows the connection between a distance on a map and the real distance on the ground. It uses a simple fraction or ratio.
For example, if a map has a scale of 1:50,000, this means that 1 unit on the map equals 50,000 of the same units in real life.
How to Convert Ratio Scale to Other Scales:
If you measure a distance on the map that is 2 cm, you can find out how far that is in real life by multiplying:
To change centimeters to kilometers (since 100,000 cm makes 1 km), you would get:
A linear scale looks like a line marked with different sections. It helps you measure distances straight from the map. For example, if the scale shows that 0-2 cm on the line equals 0-1 km, you can use this to measure any distance on the map.
A verbal scale explains the ratio using words. It may say something like “1 cm equals 1 km.” This is clear and easy to understand, but remember to use the same units if you are comparing longer distances!
Imagine you have a verbal scale that says, “1 cm equals 1 km.” You want to turn this into a ratio scale.
By following these steps, changing between scale types isn’t so hard anymore! Always keep your units the same, and practice measuring using different maps. Soon enough, you’ll be navigating map scales like a champ!
Understanding how to change between different types of map scales can be a little confusing. But don't worry! With some practice, you can get the hang of it.
Let’s break down the three main types of scales you might see:
A ratio scale shows the connection between a distance on a map and the real distance on the ground. It uses a simple fraction or ratio.
For example, if a map has a scale of 1:50,000, this means that 1 unit on the map equals 50,000 of the same units in real life.
How to Convert Ratio Scale to Other Scales:
If you measure a distance on the map that is 2 cm, you can find out how far that is in real life by multiplying:
To change centimeters to kilometers (since 100,000 cm makes 1 km), you would get:
A linear scale looks like a line marked with different sections. It helps you measure distances straight from the map. For example, if the scale shows that 0-2 cm on the line equals 0-1 km, you can use this to measure any distance on the map.
A verbal scale explains the ratio using words. It may say something like “1 cm equals 1 km.” This is clear and easy to understand, but remember to use the same units if you are comparing longer distances!
Imagine you have a verbal scale that says, “1 cm equals 1 km.” You want to turn this into a ratio scale.
By following these steps, changing between scale types isn’t so hard anymore! Always keep your units the same, and practice measuring using different maps. Soon enough, you’ll be navigating map scales like a champ!