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For each map, the distance an inch may represent a different distance in the real world. Every map has a scale, that is, one unit of measurement on the map equals another unit of distance on the ground. A map of Rhode Island that occupies one page in an atlas and a map of Texas on another page will have very different scales. Some maps in the same edition (military, or U.S. Geological Survey maps, for instance, have standard scales. One unit on the map represents 25,000 or 50,000 units on the ground. In this case, just measure the distance you want, and multiply by the second number in the ratio. 1:25,000. Twenty-five thousand inches is not a meaningful number to most people, so you'll have to convert it to feet (divide by 12) then to miles (divide by 5,280).

Any good map has a "legend". The legend includes things like the name of the place the map represents, which direction on the map is north (it's not always straight up), what roads look like on the map, where churches and schools are, and similar data. One of these is the map or "representative scale".

The scale shows how far, on the map, one measures to represent a given distance in reality. Many maps use multiples of five mile or kilometer distances (that is, 5, 10, 15, etc.) in the scale. Others use one unit or ten units. A scale might look like this:

|__|__|__|__|__|

0...5..10..15..20..25 miles

To determine the distance between two points, first, you'll need to answer the question: "Do I want a straight-line distance or a route (road or path) distance?"

For a straight-line distance ("as the crow flies"), measure the space between the two points using knots on piece of string or marks on the edge of a piece of paper. Then, using the scale on the map, see how many scale units fall between the two marks or knots.

Move the piece of paper to the scale. Let's say your marks are this far apart, with the scale above it (I've put exclamation marks to represent points where I've moved the scale to the right four times so we can see how many 25-mile units the distance between the two marks are):

|__|__|__|__|__!__|__|__|__|__!__|__|__|__|__!__|__|__|__|__|

^....................................................................................^

At this scale, the distance is roughly (more than 80, but less than 85) 83 miles.

For a route distance, use a piece of paper with a mark lined up with the first of your two points. Place the edge of the paper as closely as possible along either the left or right side of the symbol for the road or path you're going to measure. When the road turns, make a new mark, and pivot the paper to the next direction with this new mark at the point on the "road" where it turns.

Continue to mark the paper every time you have to pivot it to go in a new direction. It is important to stay on the same "side" of the "road" because meandering back and forth on the "road" will add distance to your measurements, and this distance can be significant.

When you reach the second point (the end of the journey), you'll have several marks on your paper, but you care only about the first one and the last one. What you've done is create a "straight-line equivalent" along the edge of your piece of paper that's the scale distance between your two points. Follow the same method above to convert from "map distance" to the actual length you'd travel on the ground.

It will take a bit of practice to become proficient with measuring distances on a map. Do it several times before it's important so you can do it well.

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A map has a scale of 1 inch 38 feet use 5.5 inches to find the actual distance?

To find the actual distance represented by 5.5 inches on the map, you can use the scale of 1 inch = 38 feet. Multiply 5.5 inches by 38 feet to get the actual distance: 5.5 x 38 = 209 feet. Therefore, the actual distance represented by 5.5 inches on the map is 209 feet.


How do you find the actual distance between two points on Earth using graphic scale?

To find the actual distance between two points on Earth using a graphic scale, measure the distance between the two points on the map using the scale provided. Convert this measurement to actual distance by using the ratio scale (e.g., 1 cm = 100 km) provided on the map. Multiply the measured distance by the ratio to find the actual distance between the two points on Earth.


Salem and eugene Oregon are 64 miles apart if the distance on the map is 3 14 inches find the scale of the map?

64 divided by 3.25 equals 19.7. Problem solved


Can a scale be used to find the elevation of a feature on a topographic map?

No, a scale on a topographic map only shows the ratio of a distance on the map to the actual distance on the ground. To find the elevation of a feature, contour lines and contour intervals on the map must be used to determine the height above sea level.


What town would be midway?

To determine the town that would be midway between two locations, you would first calculate the total distance between the two locations. Then, divide this total distance by 2 to find the halfway point. Next, you would measure the distance from each location to this halfway point to identify the town that falls equidistant between the two. This method ensures accuracy in determining the midway town based on the geographical distance between the two locations.

Related Questions

If you wanted to find how far an inch on a map represented in a actual distance where would you look?

The key.


If you wanted to find how far in inch on a map represented an actual distance where would you look?

The map scale is usually located in the legend box of a map.


A map has a scale of 1 inch 38 feet use 5.5 inches to find the actual distance?

To find the actual distance represented by 5.5 inches on the map, you can use the scale of 1 inch = 38 feet. Multiply 5.5 inches by 38 feet to get the actual distance: 5.5 x 38 = 209 feet. Therefore, the actual distance represented by 5.5 inches on the map is 209 feet.


If you wanted to find how how far an inch on a map represented in actual distance where would you look?

To find out how far an inch on a map represents in actual distance, you would need to look for the map's scale. The scale of a map indicates the ratio between a unit of length on the map and the corresponding distance on the ground. Typically, the scale is provided in the map's legend or key. By using this scale, you can calculate the actual distance represented by an inch on the map.


Where would you look to find out how distance on a map compared to the actual distance on land?

Maps are flat and Earth is round


If you wanted to find out how far an inch on a map representded in actual distance where would you look?

Map scale


The scale of a map is 2 cm to 21 km .find the actual distances for the following Mao distances?

Sure thing, honey. If the map distance is 6 cm, the actual distance would be 63 km. If the map distance is 8.5 cm, the actual distance would be 89.25 km. Just multiply the map distance by 21 km and divide by 2 cm to get the actual distance. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!


Why is A map is drawn to scale 1cm to 10km. Find the actual distance represented by 54mm?

If the map scale is 1 cm to 10 km, then 1 mm on the map represents 0.1 km in reality (since 1 cm = 10 mm). Therefore, 54 mm on the map is equivalent to 54 mm × 0.1 km/mm = 5.4 km. Thus, the actual distance represented by 54 mm is 5.4 kilometers.


When you find actual distance on a map do you expect to get exact or approximate answers?

Approximate.


How do you find the actual distance between two points on Earth using graphic scale?

To find the actual distance between two points on Earth using a graphic scale, measure the distance between the two points on the map using the scale provided. Convert this measurement to actual distance by using the ratio scale (e.g., 1 cm = 100 km) provided on the map. Multiply the measured distance by the ratio to find the actual distance between the two points on Earth.


Why do maps show a scale?

So you can find out the actual distance from point A to point B.


The scale on a map states that 1 centimeter corresponds to 20 kilometers. On the map two cities are 0.3 cm apart. Find the actual distance.?

To find the actual distance between the two cities, multiply the distance on the map (0.3 cm) by the scale factor (20 kilometers per centimeter). Thus, the actual distance is 0.3 cm × 20 km/cm = 6 kilometers. Therefore, the two cities are 6 kilometers apart.