This math skill involves converting a real-world distance into a distance on a map using the scale of the map. The process includes converting units to match the scale, applying the scale ratio to find the equivalent map distance, and simplifying the result to get the final measurement on the map.
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Converting to a distance on a map based on the map's scale
Test your understanding of converting to a distance on a map by practicing it! Work through the below exercises to use it in practice.
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How many millimeters on the map would represent 700 meters in reality if the map has a 1 to 10,000 scale?
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First we need to make sure we're working in the same units, so let's convert our 700 meters to millimeters. We multiply by 1000, so that's 700,000 millimeters
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Map scales are a ratio. 1 to 10,000 is the same as the map measurement to 700,000
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So if we rearrange and simplify, 700 meters in reality is 700,000 over 10,000, or 70 milliimeters on the map.