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One common method of representing scale on a map is a ratio such as 1:24,000 (the current scale for the USGS 7.5 min. topographic series) which indicates that one unit if length (mm, cm, inch, etc...) on the map is equal to 24,000 of the same unit of length (mm, cm, inch, etc...) in real life. For example, 1 inch on a map with a scale of 1:24,000 is equal to 24,000 inches of horizontal distance on the ground in real life.

The second common method of representing scale on a map is using a scale bar which is a graphical representation of some set of distances. The distances in a scale bar are generally real life distances as you would experience them if you were walking a straight line between two points (i.e. they are usually in units of feet, meters, kilometers, miles, etc...). A scale bar can be used to measure a distance on the map in terms of how far it is in real life, the format is similar to a ruler.

If you go to Google Images and look up MAP SCALE BAR several good examples will come up. Hope this helps!

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15y ago

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