Map Scale A map scale is a visual representation of a large area of land. The map of the United States may look small on a piece of paper, but in reality, it is thousands of miles wide. To help measure the distance between two locations on a map, a map scale is generally used.

This is a map of the Central Metro System in Washington D.C. In the lower right hand corner of the map, you will see a scale in both Kilometers and Miles. You can use this scale in two ways. The first is to use a ruler. Measure from one end of the scale all the way to the other. This distance represents 2.5 miles. To figure out how many miles one point is from another. For instance, Union Station to Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood is about the same size as the scale. Therefore, those stations are about 2.5 miles away from each other. If you were to measure a distance twice as long as the map scale, you would multiply 2.5 by 2, making the two points 5 miles away from each other. If you don’t have a ruler, you can use the edge of a piece of paper to mark the length of the scale and help you determine the distance between two points.

Map Scale - Basic Cut out the ruler below. Use the map scale and the ruler to find the distance between each object. Measure from the center of each symbol.

10 feet

1. What is the distance between the hospital and the library? ___________________________ 2. What is the distance between the bus stop and the house? __________________________ 3. What is the distance between the school and the playground? _____________________ 4. What is the distance between the golf course and the house? ________________________ 5. What is the distance between the post office and the hospital? _______________________ 6. What is the distance between the police station and the library? _____________________ 7. What is the distance between the hospital and the golf course? ______________________ 8. What is the distance between the school and the library? ____________________________

Map Scale - Intermediate Cut out the ruler below. Use the map scale and the ruler to find the distance between each object. Measure from the center of each symbol.

4 feet

1. What is the distance between the hospital and the library? ___________________________ 2. What is the distance between the bus stop and the house? __________________________ 3. What is the distance between the school and the playground? _____________________ 4. What is the distance between the golf course and the house? ________________________ 5. What is the distance between the post office and the hospital? _______________________ 6. What is the distance between the police station and the library? _____________________ 7. What is the distance between the hospital and the golf course? ______________________ 8. What is the distance between the school and the library? ____________________________

Map Scale Use the map scale and a ruler or piece of paper to find the approximate distance between each city in Spain. Measure from the center of each symbol.

1. What is the distance between Leon and Burgos? ____________________________________ 2. What is the distance between Toledo and Valencia? ________________________________ 3. What is the distance between Seville and Madrid? _________________________________ 4. What is the distance between Barcelona and Merida? _______________________________ 5. What is the distance between Lisbon and Lorca? _____________________________________