Solution (a) Map scale = 3 cm : 1.

5 km
= 3 cm : 1.5  1000  100 cm Convert 1.5 km to centimetres.
= 3 cm : 150 000 cm
= 1 : 50 000

(b) The map scale shows that 1 cm on the map represents

50 000 cm on the ground.
∴ the actual distance between the two schools
= 7  50 000 cm
= 350 000 cm
= 3.5 km
1
(c) Distance on the map = 6  km

=6 
50 000
1
 1000  100 cm
RECALL
50 000
1 km = 1000 m
= 12 cm 1 m = 100 cm
1 km = 1000 3 100 cm
= 100 000 cm
Try It! 1 A distance of 4 cm on a map represents an actual distance of 5 km.
(a) Find the scale of the map in the form 1 : r.
(b) If the distance between two cinemas on the map is 6 cm, find
the actual distance between the two cinemas in km.
(c) If the actual distance between two bus stops is 8 km, find the
distance on the map in cm.

B Map Scale and Area

If the scale of a map is 1 : r, what is the ratio of the area of a region on the map to the
actual area of the region? Let us explore it in the following activity.

1
Objective: To interpret the various scales used on maps, floor plans and other scale drawings,
and calculate the actual distances/lengths and areas.

Questions
1. The diagram on the right is an engineering drawing of the
design of a mobile phone. The scale is 1 : 2.
(a) Measure the width and the height of the screen on
the drawing. 9 cm
13.4 cm
(b) Calculate the actual area of the screen.
(c) What is the ratio of the area of the screen on the
drawing to the actual area of the screen?

6 cm
6.8 cm

3
 2.

0 100 200 m

Dover
EW22 Pedestrian Gate
Commonw Gate 8
ealth Aven
Bio Stream ue West

T12

Plaza
T12A T11A
Natural Woods A GRO-
CONCOURSE TECH

T16
T14 W1

e
Avenu
T15
Ecogarden
T4A
W2

Dover
Street T8
LIBRARY T1
Multi-purpose
Soccer
W3
Field T6 T4 MLT
T9 T2 1
POLYCENTRE FC1

The diagram above shows the partial campus map of Singapore Polytechnic.
(a) Find the scale of the map and express it in the form 1 : r.
(b) How would you estimate the actual distance between Dover MRT station and Gate 8 from the
map? Give your estimation.
(c) Estimate the actual length and breadth of the building block W1 from the map.
(d) Hence, what can you say about the actual site area of the building block W1?
(e) What is the ratio of the area of the block on the map to the actual area of the block?

3. The diagram on the right shows the floor plan of a

flat. The scale of the floor plan is 1 : 150.
(a) Measure the dimensions of Bedroom 2 on the
floor plan in cm. Bedroom 3
(b) Find the actual length and breadth of
Bedroom 2 in cm. Bedroom 1
(c) What is the ratio of the area of Bedroom 2 Kitchen
on the floor plan to the actual area of
Bedroom 2?
(d) If you were to add a bed, a writing table and a
chair to Bedroom 2, what sizes of these pieces
of furniture would be appropriate?
Living room

Bedroom 2

Chapter 1 Proportion
4