1. Map Scale

2. Is this to scale?

6. Large Scale and Small Scale Maps
Scale determines the amount of detail a map will show.
Large Scale Maps: show a large amount of detail and a small area.
e.g. 1:50 000, 1:25 000
Small Scale Maps: show a small amount of detail over a large area.
e.g. 1: , 1:
*a map of the world that fits on an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper has a scale of 1: 100 million.

7. Scale Area Detail Example Large Scale Maps (1:50 000 or less) Small
A lot (LOTS)
(streets, schools, railways, …)
Topographic maps, road maps, city bus maps
Small Scale Maps
(1: or more)
Large
A little (SMALL)
(borders, lakes, large rivers, …)
Globes, world maps, atlases

8. Scale – Mapping Our Location
Woodroffe High School
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9. Scale – Mapping Our Location
Woodroffe HS
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1 cm= 100 m

10. Scale – Mapping Our Location
Woodroffe HS
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1 cm= 200 m

11. Scale – Mapping Our Location
Woodroffe HS
You are here!
1 cm= 5 km

12. Scale – Mapping Our Location
Woodroffe HS
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1 cm= 20 km

13. Scale – Mapping Our Location
Eastern Ontario Map
You are here!

14. Scale – Mapping Our Location
Ontario Map
You are here!

15. Scale – Mapping Our Location
Canada Map
You are here!

16. Scale – Mapping Our Location
World Map
You are here!

18. Map Scale
Direct Statement (DS): a sentence about a distance on a map compared to the actual distance in real life.
e.g. “one centimetre represents four kilometres”
“three centimetres represents eight kilometres”

19. Map Scale
Linear Scale (LS): a straight line divided into units which can be used for measuring distance on a map.

20. Map Scale
Representative Fraction (RF): a fraction that involves no mention of units. Because units are ignored, whatever you assign to one side must be assigned to the other.
e.g. 1: could become,
1 cm : cm or,
1 m : m or,
1 “size 11 boot” : “size eleven boots”

21. Scale: Overview