Scale and distance on maps

This section explains how to use and convert different types of scales. It also discusses how to measure
distances on maps.

By the end of this section, you should be able to:

 Measure curved and straight distances

 Use thescale to convert map distances to real distances

 Convert (change) one scale to another.

Topographic maps show man-made features such as houses, roads, railroads, windmills, etc., as well
as natural features such as rivers and mountains.

Part of a 1:50 000 topographic map of the Ogongo area

 Let’s visit my uncle at the Agricultural
college.

Can we walk from Oshitutuma to the

college?

I don’t know,let us look at our map. It has

a 1:50 000 ratio scale. On the map it is
about 7 cm from Oshitutuma to the Different units can be used in a
college. The formula is: map distance × word scale, for example, if 1 cm
scale, so 7 cm × 50 000 cm is 350 000 cm. equals 0.5 km then 1 mm equals
Now we must divide 350 000 cm by 100 0.05 km
000 cm to convert the distanceto
kilometres. So the real distance is 350 000
÷ 100 000 = 3.5 km. Yes, we will be able
to walk to the college.

Ruben and Selma are using a topographic map to find their way to the college. To work out what the
real distance will be, they must know how to use the scale of the map. They must also know how to
measure distances on the map.

Map scales
A map scale shows us the relation between a distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the
surface of the earth. There are three types of scales: word scales, ratio scales and linear scales.

1 Word scales
If 1 cm on the map represents 50 000 cm in reality, then 1 cm also represents 0.5 km.

2 Ratio scales

If the ratio scale is 1:50 000, then 1 cm equals 50 000 cm. Here are examples of other ratio scales:
1:2 000 000
1:4 000

To convert a word scale to a ratio scale you must follow two rules:
 1 A ratio scale must always start with 1.
2 The measurements before and after the colon (:) must be in the same unit. For example, to
convert the word scale 4 cm equals 2 km, you must apply both rules. Therefore you must first
convert 2 km to cm (2 × 100 000 = 200 000) and then you must divide 4 by 4 (=1). Remember
that you must also divide the 200 000 by 4 (= 50 000). The ratio scale is therefore 1:50 000.

3 Linear scale
A linear scale consists of a line, divided into primary units, with secondary units to the left of the 0.
Remember that the primary units to the left of the 0 must be exactly the same size or length as the
primary units to the right of the 0.

The above example of a linear scale means that 1 cm on the map equals 1 km on the ground.
Study the following two examples and try to convert them to word scales. Don’t worry if you can’t do
it. We will explain more about scale conversions later.
2 cm = 3 km or 1cm = 1.5 km

The following steps will help you to draw a linear scale. They are used in the example below to show
you how you go about drawing a linear scale. Example: Draw a linear scale with primary and
secondary units where 2 cm equals 100 m.

Step 1: Draw a linear scale (line)…

__________________________________(draw a line of any length)

Step 2: where 2 cm…(divide line into 2 cm units)

Step 3: equals 100 m

(every 2 cm equals 100 m)

Step 4: Subdivide the units to the left of the 0 into smaller secondary units of your own choice.

How to convert scales

One type of scale can be converted to another type of scale. Look at the example below to see how.

Example: Convert to:

Word scale: 1 cm represents 0.5 Ratio scale:

km

Linear: Word scale: 1 cm represents 1 km

To be able to convert one scale to another scale or one unit to another unit, you must know the following:
To convert from: small unit to To convert from: large unit to
large unit small unit
Km to mm you x by 1,000,000
1 000 000 mm in 1 km mm to km you ÷ by 1 000 000

100 000 cm in 1 km cm to km you ÷ by 100 000 Km to cm you x by 100,000

Km to m you x by 1, 000
1 000 m in 1 km m to km you ÷ by 1 000

100 cm in 1 m cm to m you ÷ by 100 M to cm you x by 100

M to mm you x by 1,000
1 000 mm in 1 m mm to m you ÷ by 1 000

Measuring distance
On a map, distances can be measured in two ways:
along a straight line or along a curved line.
Along a straight line
To measure a straight line, simply use your ruler. For
example, the distance from A to B shown here is 5.6
cm.
1 Along a curved line
To measure a curved line you need a piece
of paper with a straight edge.
Step 1: Put the paper strip with the straight edge on the first
straight part of the road or curved line. Mark point B onto the
strip at the beginning of it and make another mark (b) where the
road starts to curve away from the paper strip.

Step 2: Keeping the mark of (b) firmly fixed, rotate the straight
edge of the paper strip until it follows the next straight part of
the road. Now mark (c) where the road curves away again (up
or down) from the paper strip.

Step 3: Keep on rotating the paper strip and marking the parts
on the strip, until the whole curved distance, from B to
Namutoni, is marked onto the strip of paper.

Step 4: Lay the paper strip against your ruler and read the distance from B to Namutoni as done below.
Work out the real distance by using the map scales provided.
.

Calculating distance by using different scales

If you know how to use map scales, you can easily work out the real distance between places.
The map is provided with a ratio and a linear scale.

To use the ratio scale, you must understand the following formula:
Ratio scale =Map distance × scale (if you convert from cm to km)
100 000

Let us measure the distance the aeroplane travelled between Mogadishu in Somalia and Nairobi in Kenya
by using our formula.

Map distance = 1.5 cm × map scale

= 1.5 cm × 60 000 000 cm
= 90 000 000 cm ÷ 100 000 (to convert to km)
= 900 km

To use the linear scale, you must understand how to read the distance on this type of scale. It allows you
to measure the real distance between places on a map. Use your ruler and measure the map distance from
Windhoek to Luanda on the map of Africa (Figure 1.5). The distance is 2.7 cm. Now place your ruler on
the linear scale so that the 2.7 cm mark on the ruler is directly below the 1 200 km mark on the linear
scale (between 2 cm and 3 cm). Now study Figure 1.6. Point A is Windhoek and B is Luanda. Point A lies
somewhere in the secondary units on the left side of the 0 (zero). Take the reading from 0 on the linear
scale to point B. Do the same from 0 on the linear scale to point A and add the two readings (distances).
The answer will give you the distance in km (kilometres) between Windhoek and Luanda.
 From zero to B = 1200 km
From zero to A = 450 km
Windhoek to Luanda = 1650 km

Lesson Summary

•Every map has a scale that shows the relation between a distance on the map and the same distance in
real life.

•The three types of scales are: word scales, ratio scales and linear scales, and one scale can be converted
to another one.

•Distance on a map can be measured in a straight line between two points or along a curved line, for
example a road. The scale is then used to convert map distance to distance in reality in metres or
kilometres.