Understanding Map Scales and Conversions
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ScribdTranslationsUnderstanding Map Scales and Conversions
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ScribdTranslationsThe scales
In exercises related to measurement conversions, proportions, and
In the equivalences, we inevitably find the famous map scales.
geographical.
Often we come across statements that refer to a scale of 1/100000 or 1/250000.
But what does that mean?
Scales can be found on plans, on models, on maps.
road transport etc...
In fact, it is simply a matter of reducing or increasing a real distance in order to
to be able to read it or draw it on a suitable paper surface for transfer
of information.
For example, one can reproduce the dimensions of a country on a document that is
much smaller than the actual surface of the country (geography map). But for
to be able to redefine the real values between cities, there needs to be a reference that
is always the same. This reference is therefore the scale that is represented under the
form of a report between the distance drawn on the document and the actual distance
that can be found on the ground.
In a realistic context, we will find the information in the following form.
1 / 100000
1cm on the document = 100,000 cm on the ground
We indeed have a linear proportion represented by this scale.
The more we increase the measurement on the plan or on the map, the greater the distance on the
the land will be increased.
It is important to have a conversion tool to help transfer measurements.
of the plan on the ground and vice versa.
The conversion table can have several different forms. We will
discover a table that allows conversion in both directions. That is to say of
being able to convert distances from the map to the ground, and vice versa,
distances from the ground to the map.
For convenience, I convert 100000 from the example above into 10.5
Measurement of
X 105 1 cm 5 cm 7.8 cm 9.64 cm
plan
Measurement of
terrain
100000 cm 500000 cm 780000 cm 964000 cm ÷105
What can these tables be used for?
Well, for a given scale, I can:
• Calculate dimensions on the drawing in order to create a scale figure.
• Conversely, I can calculate real dimensions based on a drawing.
• For given dimensions (drawing/reality), I can calculate a scale.
Example No. 1:
A beam measures 1.75 m: what will its measurement be at a scale of 1/20?
I take my scale 1/20 chart again, and this time I note a new actual measurement.
ATTENTION: I am very careful to convert 1.75 m to cm
1.75 m = 175 cm
Measurement of
X 20 1cm ?
plan
Measurement of
terrain
20 cm 175 cm ÷20
I need to go from the bottom line to the top one. I then divide by 20
175 ÷ 20 = 8,75
Measurement of
X 20 1cm 8.75 cm
plan
Measurement of
terrain
20 cm 175 cm ÷20
or by cross-multiplication
plan reality
1 20
? 175
1X175 175
= =8 . 7 5 C M
20 20
Example No. 2:
On the road map, the distance between 2 cities is represented by a segment of 8 cm.
the scale of the map is 1/1,000,000.
Calculate the actual distance as the crow flies in kilometers between these 2 cities.
First, I convert my scale into power form.
1,000,000 = 106
Then I build my conversion table.
Measurement of
X 106 1 cm 8cm
plan
Measurement of
terrain
1,000,000 cm ? ÷106
I have to move from the top line to the bottom line
I then multiply by 1 million (106) 8 x 1,000,000 = 8,000,000
Measurement of
X 106 1 cm 8cm
plan
Measure of
terrain
1,000,000 cm 8,000,000 cm ÷106
or by cross-multiplication
card terrain
1 1,000,000
8 ?
1000000X8 8000000
= =8000000CM
1 1
Then I convert my answer into km.
km hm Dam M Dm Cm Mm
8 0 0 0 0 0 0
80 km
The distance on the map represents a real distance of 80 km on the ground.
Example No. 3 :
In this example, it will simply be a matter of finding the value of the scale.
When I know the values expressed on the plan and on the ground, I am in
measure of knowing the representation of the scale.
For reference, I must remember that the scale is always expressed according to
the following example: 1/n
The value of 1 is the one applicable on the plan (value of the plan)
The value 'n' is the one represented on the ground (real value)
Let's take as an example:
The distance from a wall on a plan is 6.5 cm.
By measuring this wall on site, we calculate a length of 1 m and 95 cm.
What scale is used to establish this plan?
To help me perform this calculation, I will build a table to enter the
known information. 1 m and 95 cm = 195 cm
value scale
Information you 6.5 cm 1
plan
Information 195 cm ?
real
I simply apply the product in cross.
value scale
Information of you
6.5 cm 1
plan
Information
195 cm ?
real
and I discover the value of the scale
195x1 195
= =30
6.5 6.5
The scale used for the creation of this plan is therefore 1/30.