Question

In how many ways can a scale be expressed? Explain them.

Answer 1

A scale can be understood as the ratio or proportion of a map's dimensions and the dimensions of any two corresponding points on the ground. The different types of scales are as follows:

1. Statement: Any map can be drawn to scale where the size of one centimetre represents the distance of one kilometre on the Earth's surface. The scale of a map is from 1 cm to 1 km or from 1 cm to 5 km.​​
2. Representative fraction (RF): A map scale can be indicated by the fraction or ratio in which the numerator is one unit distance on the map. The RF of a map is indicated as 1/1,00,000 or 1 : 1,00,000. This means one unit distance on the map is equal to 1,00,000 units on the ground.
3. Linear scale: It comprises a straight line of either 10 cm or 15 cm, which is graduated in terms of distances on the Earth's surface, e.g. kilometres. The actual distance between two given places on a map can be easily measured with the help of a linear scale.