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Geography / Grid maps and scale / Grade 5 / gg501

Convert Map Scale into Real Distance

Multiply map measurements by a distance scale.

All worksheets
5 questions0m 0s
Learn the skill

Read the scale's units first. Multiply map centimeters by kilometers per centimeter to find real distance. For a multi-part route, add the mapped segments before converting.

Worked example

At a scale of 1 cm = 3 km, a 4 cm route represents 4 x 3 = 12 km. A straight-line distance may be shorter than a route along roads.

Regional Map

The scale is 1 cm = 4 km. Along mapped roads, Oak to Pine measures 3 cm, Pine to Lake measures 2 cm, and Oak to Hill measures 5 cm. All questions use these road measurements, not straight-line distances.

1. What is the road distance from Oak to Pine?
2. What is the road distance from Pine to Lake?
3. How far is Oak to Lake by the route through Pine?
4. A road measures 24 km in reality. How long is it on this map?
5. How does Oak to Hill compare with Oak to Lake through Pine?