Take a look at the maps below. You may click on each thumbnail image to view the map in greater detail.

 

Each map has a different scale. Scale is the relationship between distance on a map and the actual distance on the ground. The scale for the map on the left indicates that a certain distance on the map, shown by the dark line, is equal to 0.3 miles on the ground. The map on the right shows that the distance between 0 and 0.4 miles on the map is equal to 0.4 miles on the ground. Because the map on the right has a smaller line representing a larger distance, the map covers a larger area compared to the map on the left.

Often maps will show scale in a fraction or ratio. For instance, you may see 1/20,000 inches. This means that for every one inch on the map there are 20,000 inches on the ground. The first number or the map distance is always 1. The second number, or the ground distance changes depending on the map. As a rule, the larger the second number, the smaller the scale.

When using a map, it is important to identify what the scale is for that map. Knowing scale will allow you to determine distance. The distance between two points on a map can be found by measuring with appropriate scale.