1. MAP SCALE

2. A map shows features of the earth’s surface. To be accurate, all distances related to these features must be true to reality. However, to be useful, the map must appear on a piece of paper of convenient size. Throughout history, cartographers have struggled to know the most convenient size for maps and balance it with the degree of detail necessary for the map to be useful. The solution is in Scale.

3. MAP SCALE To represent reality (not show it directly), everything on the map is drawn to scale. It is shown in exact proportion to its size in reality. Scale : the relationship between distance on the map and distance in reality.

4. THE GRAPHIC SCALE easiest scale to understand also called linear scale, line scale or bar scale a short line marked with common distances appropriate to the map (10 km, 100 km, 1000 km) gives readers a rough idea of distances between various points on a map not very accurate

5. THE RATIO SCALE 1 : 17 000 000 first number is the distance on the map second number is the distance on the ground/reality 1 cm equals 17 000 000 cm sometimes shows as a fraction 1____ 17 000 000 allows readers to use math skills to calculate distances 4 cm = 68 000 000 cm (4 x 17 000 000) not very meaningful

6. THE STATEMENT SCALE Halifax to Truro on the map is 18 million centimetres CRAZY answer usually converted to something useful and easier to visualize “1 cm represents 180 km” 100 cm in 1 metre, 1000 m in 1 km therefore 100 000 cm in 1 km used to be complicated but conversion to metric system has simplified this