Question: How To Read A Map Scale

The first number of the scale is always one It’s your unit of measurement, usually an inch The second number is the ground distance For example, if your US Geological Survey (USGS) map has a scale of 1:24,000, it means that 1 inch on the map is equal to 24,000 inches (2,000 feet or 610 meters) in the real world

What does a map scale of 1 to 25000 mean?

The basics On a 1:25 000 map, such as an OS Explorer, one unit of length on the map represents 25,000 units on the ground So 1cm on the map represents 25,000cm or 250 metres on the ground

How do you use a scale on a map?

Multiply the number of inches on the map times the scale to determine the true distance For example, if the distance on the map was 55 inches and the scale was 1:6,336,000, the true distance would be 550 miles To convert an area, convert the dimensions using the scale and then find the true area

What does a scale of 1 24000 mean on a topographic map?

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

How big is a square on a 1 50000 map?

Grid Squares (this bit is like magic): 1 blue grid square (this time 2cm) represents 1 kilometre, which takes 15 minutes to walk and almost no time to drive Amount of Detail: You can use a 1:50,000 map for walking but it will only show larger features such as roads and large paths

What does a 1 5000 scale mean?

Large and small scales: – 1:5000 is a larger scale than 1:100,000 – ‘Large scale’ depends on context but usually refers to scales larger than about 1:50,000 (NOTE – this has nothing to do with an expression like ‘a large-scale construction project’)

What are the 3 scales on a map?

There are three ways to show the scale of a map: graphic (or bar), verbal, and representative fraction

How do you calculate scale?

To scale an object to a larger size, you simply multiply each dimension by the required scale factor For example, if you would like to apply a scale factor of 1:6 and the length of the item is 5 cm, you simply multiply 5 × 6 = 30 cm to get the new dimension

Is 1 24000 a large or small scale?

As a fraction, 1:24,000 is bigger than 1:250,000, so the 1:24,000 map is a larger scale map than the 1:250,000 map

What is scale on a map?

Simply defined, scale is the relationship between distance on the map and distance on the ground A map scale might be given in a drawing (a graphic scale), but it usually is given as a fraction or a ratio-1/10,000 or 1:10,000

What does 1 30000 mean on a map?

For example, if your US Geological Survey (USGS) map has a scale of 1:24,000, it means that 1 inch on the map is equal to 24,000 inches (2,000 feet or 610 meters) in the real world Puerto Rico, for example, maps at 1:20,000 or 1:30,000 because the country originally mapped at a metric scale

How accurate is a six figure grid?

Six figure grid references are commonly used for topographic maps with a scale of 1:50,000 On a 6-figure grid reference the last digit refers to a tenth of the distance between the 1km grid reference lines, so the reference is only accurate to within 100 metres

What is the largest map scale?

1:1200 Size of Scale Representative Franction (RF) Medium Scale 1:1,000,000 to 1:25,000 Small Scale 1:1,000,000 or smaller

How much is 1 cm on a map?

working out what 1 cm on the map is equivalent to as a real life distance A map has a scale of 1:25000 This means that 1 cm on the map is 25000 cm in real life, which is 250 m or 025 km

What does a 1 2000 scale mean?

The measurement of 10 mm on the plan represents an actual size of 20000 mm or 20 m (2000 x 10 mm)

How does a 1 200 scale work?

A drawing of 1:200 is representing 200 units for every one unit – and therefore is showing the elements smaller than the 1:50 drawing It is worth noting that scale drawings represent the same units So, if a drawing is at 1:50 in cm, 1cm in the drawing will be equal to 50cm in real life

How do you read a scale of 1 500?

A scale of 1:500 means that the actual real-life measurements are 500 times greater than those on the plan or map This means that it does not matter whether you take the measurements on the plan in millimetres (mm), centimetres (cm) or metres (m) – the measurements will be 500 times as much in real life

What are the 4 types of scales?

The four types of scales are: Nominal Scale Ordinal Scale Interval Scale Ratio Scale

What is scale how many types of scale are there?

Introduction: There are 4 types of scales, based on the extent to which scale values have the arithmetic properties of true numbers The arithmetic proper- ties are order, equal intervals, and a true zero point From the least to the most mathematical, the scale types are nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio

What is high scale?

1 : involving many people or things Their equipment is suitable for large-scale production 2 : covering or involving a large area a large-scale map

How is a magnification scale calculated?

Magnification can be calculated using a scale bar This is a line drawn near the photograph or drawing which has a label showing the actual length of the bar before being magnified Working out magnification: Magnification = scale bar image divided by actual scale bar length (written on the scale bar)