Geography · Grades 5–9
Map scale, direction and distance
Separate a model distance from a journey distance.
Learn the idea
Scale
A scale relates map length to real-world length.
Units
Both lengths in a representative fraction use the same units.
Direction
Use the map’s stated north reference rather than guessing from page position.
Limits
Straight-line distance can differ from an actual route.
Worked examples
A map uses 1 cm for 2 km. Two points are 4.5 cm apart. Find the represented distance.
4.5 × 2 = 9 km.
9 km
A representative fraction is 1:100,000. What does 1 cm represent?
The ratio compares matching units.
100,000 cm.
Check your understanding
Convert 100,000 cm to kilometers.
What should determine north on a rotated map?
- Always the screen's top.
- The longest road.
- Its north arrow or coordinate reference.
Why can driving distance exceed the straight-line map distance?
Answers and marking notes
Answers and marking notes
- 1 km
100,000 cm = 1000 m = 1 km.
- Its north arrow or coordinate reference.
Map orientation may differ from page orientation.
- Roads follow routes, obstacles and available connections.
A scale calculation does not specify the accessible route.
Independent educational review required. Grade bands are approximate; these are not officially aligned curricula.