This math skill involves converting a measure of distance on a map to actual distance using the map’s scale. The method requires knowing the scale ratio, converting the map measurement to actual units, and adjusting the units appropriately (e.g., centimeters to kilometers).
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Converting from a distance on a map, same unit, based on the map's scale
Test your understanding of converting from a map distance by practicing it! Work through the below exercises to use it in practice.
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How many kilometers does 3 centimeters represent on a map with a 1 to 10,000 scale?
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Since the map has a 1 to 10,000 scale, 3 centimeters on the map would be 30,000 centimeters in reality.
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We know that a centimeter is 1 one hundredth of a meter
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So 30,000 centimeters is 300 meters.
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One meter is 1 one thousandth of a kilometer, so 300 meters is 300 over 1000 kilometers
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Which would be 0.3 kilometers.