I. THREE FORMS OF SCALE.

Scale is shown on maps in three ways:

A. Verbal Scale:

1 inch equals 16 milesThis example tells us that 1-inch on the map represents 16 miles on
the surface of the Earth. This is the easiest scale to understand because it generally uses
familiar units.

B. Graphic or Bar Scale:

______________________________________
_____16________0________16_________32_ miles

The Bar Scale is particularly important when enlarging or reducing maps by photocopy
techniques because it changes with the map. If the Bar Scale is included in the
photocopy, you will have an indication of the new scale.

C. Representative Fraction (RF) or Natural Scale:

1:1,000,000 (this is the same as 1/1,000,000)

The RF says that 1 of any measurement on the map equals 1 million of the same
measurement on the original surface; for the example above 1-foot equals 1 million feet
or 1 cm. equals 1,000,000 cm. This is the form of scale commonly used in the Map
Collection. A good quality map should have both the RF and Bar Scales.

II. LARGE AND SMALL SCALE: when we speak of large-scale maps we are saying
the RF is large, i.e. the RF's denominator is small. 1:10,000 and 1:62,500 maps are large
scale. Small-scale maps have a small RF. 1:500,000 and 1:1,000,000 maps are small
scale.

III. HOW TO CONVERT FROM ONE FORM OF SCALE TO ANOTHER. Often

when using cartographic materials it is useful to convert from one form of scale to
another. If you have a good understanding of the concept of scale, the techniques are
fairly simple. Here is an example of converting from Verbal Scale to RF. Remember; the
RF has the same unit of measurement on both sides of the colon.

1 inch equals 10 miles

1 inch = 10 miles

1 inch = 10 miles x 12 inches/foot x 5280 feet/mile

1 inch = 10 x 63360 inches = 633,600 inches

1:633,600