Map Scale Exploration
A Grade 8 social studies worksheet designed to help students understand and apply map scales to calculate real-world distances.
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Map Scale Exploration
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Use the provided map scale information to calculate distances where necessary.
1. What does a map scale of 1:100,000 mean?
1 inch on the map represents 100,000 feet in reality.
1 unit on the map represents 100,000 of the same units in reality.
1 kilometer on the map represents 100,000 meters in reality.
1 centimeter on the map represents 100,000 miles in reality.
2. Which type of map scale is represented by a statement like '1 cm = 5 km'?
Graphic scale
Verbal scale
Representative fraction
Ratio scale
3. A map scale helps us understand the relationship between distances on a map and actual distances on the .
4. If a map has a large scale, it shows a area with more detail.
5. A small scale map typically represents a geographic area with less detail.
6. On a map with a scale of 1:50,000, the distance between two cities is measured as 5 cm. What is the actual distance in kilometers?
7. You are planning a trip and your map has a verbal scale of '1 inch = 10 miles'. If the distance you want to travel is 70 miles, how many inches will that be on the map?
8. A graphic scale changes when the map is enlarged or reduced.
True
False
9. A representative fraction (RF) scale is always expressed in the same units on both sides of the ratio.
True
False
10. Imagine you are creating a map of your neighborhood. Explain why choosing an appropriate map scale is important for your map to be useful.