Solving Scale Problems
The solution will gradually build
for each problem
Some unit conversions
1 m = 100 cm = 1000 mm
1 km = 1000 m
1 foot = 12 inches (1 = 12)
1 mile = 63,360 inches
1 hectare (ha) = 10,000m2
The real world distance between 2 features is
1600m and the map distance is 8 cm.
What is the map scale ?
Scale = 1 / xxxxx = map dist / real world
distance
If we know 3 of the figures, then we solve
for the unknown by cross-multiply & then
divide
What are we solving for?
xxxx
Map dist.
Real world
dist.
xxxx
Map dist.
Real world
dist.
What do we know?:
Map scale is unknown
1 / xxx = map dist. / real world (RW) dist
Map dist = 8 cm
RW distance is 1,600 m = 160,000 cm
1 / xxx = 8 cm / 160,000 cm
xxx = (1*160,000 cm)/8 cm
xxx = 20,000
Scale is 1 : 20,000
1
xxxx
8cm
160,000cm
The distance between 2 features on a 1:10,000
map is 5 cm. What is the real world distance?
Scale = 1 / xxxx = map dist / real world
distance
If we know 3 of the figures, then we
solve for the unknown by crossmultiply & then divide
What are we solving for?
xxxx
Map dist.
Real world
dist.
xxxx
Map dist.
Real world
dist.
What do we know?:
Real world (RW) distance
1 /xxxx = map dist / RW dist
Scale of map (1/xxxx) is 1 / 10,000
Map dist = 5 cm
1 / 10,000 = 5 cm / RW dist. cm
RW dist (cm) = (5*10,000 cm)/1
RW dist cm = 50,000 cm
In metres, RW dist = 500 m
1
10,000
5 cm
Real world
dist. cm
What is the length in cm of one km
on a 1:25,000 map?
Scale = 1 / xxxxx = map dist / real
world distance
If we know 3 of the figures, then we
solve for the unknown by crossmultiply & then divide
What are we solving for?
xxxx
Map dist.
Real world
dist.
xxxx
Map dist.
Real world
dist.
What do we know?:
Length on map (in cm)
1 / x = map dist. / real world (RW) dist
Scale of map (1/x) is 1 / 25,000
1 km RW dist (1 km = 1,000 m =
100,000 cm)
1 / 25,000 = map dist cm / 100,000 cm
Map dist (cm) = (1*100,000 cm)/25,000
Map dist = 4 cm
1
25,000
Map dist. cm
100,000cm
You have a photo with a scale expressed as
1 = mile. What is the scale as a representative fraction?
This is really a unit conversion
question
Scale = 1 / xxx = map / RW
Scale of photo is 1 = mile
If you convert top and bottom
values to the same units, then you
have a representative fraction
(since the units will cancel out)
So the question really is how
many inches in mile?
1 mile = 63,360 inches
mile = 63,360 inches / 4 =
15,840 inches
Scale is 1 : 15,840 (NO need to
show units anymore)
xxxx
Real world dist.
xxxx
xxxx
1 inch
mile
xxxx
Map dist.
1 in
15,840 in
1
15,840
A map scale is 1 cm = 750 m and a photo covers a portion of the map area.
The distance between two road intersections measures 9.8 cm on the photo
and 5.0 cm on the map. Determine the scale of the photo.
Photo scale = 1/xxx = photo/RW
We know
xxxx
Photo
RW
photo measure of 9.8 cm
If we had the RW distance we
could determine the photo scale.
Can we find RW distance?
Yes, as we have map scale and a
map measure
So first we find RW distance from
map, then use it to solve for photo
scale
Map scale is
1 cm = 750 m, or
1 cm = 75,000 cm, or
1 : 75,000
RW distance is
RW = 5.0 cm * 75,000
RW = 375,000 cm
xxxx
1
75,000
9.8 cm
RW
5.0 cm
RW
A map scale is 1 cm = 750 m and a photo covers a portion of the map
area. The distance between two road intersections measures 9.8 cm
on the photo and 5.0 cm on the map. Determine the scale of the photo.
From last slide
Photo scale is
RW distance (from map measures) is
RW = 5.0 cm * 75,000
RW = 375,000 cm
1
xxxx
1
xxxx
Realize that RW distance is the same
no matter if we calculated from a map
or a photo the RW distance is the
same
Now we can solve for photo scale
(xxxx)
xxxx = (1 * 375,000cm) / 9.8 cm
xxxx = 38,265
Scale is 1 : 38,265
9.8 cm
RW cm
9.8 cm
375000 cm
Solve for Area
The unit we will use for an area measure
is the hectare (ha)
1 ha = 10,000 m2
You can visualize this as a large square
that measures 100m on each side.
How many hectares are covered by a
standard air photo at a scale of 1:20,000
First remember that an air photo
measures 9 by 9
We want to know what ground area is
covered in the photo.
First, since we will be solving for a
metric area measure (ha), it is best to
first convert 9 to cm
Second, we find the RW distance in
metres
Photo edge = 9 in
= 9 in * 2.54 cm/in
= 22.86 cm
RW = (20,000*22.86cm) / 1
RW = 457200 cm = 4572 m
Third, we find area (L * W)
Area = 4572m * 4572m
Area = 20903184m 2
Area = 2090 ha
1
20000
22.86 cm
RW cm
How many hectares are covered by a standard air
photo at a scale of 1 = mile
The photo scale 1 = mi. needs to be
converted to a representative fraction
Next, convert the photo edge (9) to metric
(cm)
Since we will be solving for a metric measure
(ha), it is best to first convert 9 to cm
Photo edge = 9 in
= 9 in * 2.54 cm/in
= 22.86 cm
Now we find the RW distance of the photo
edge
Solve by converting mi to inches
63,360 in/mi / 4 = 15,840
RW cm = (22.86 cm*15840)/1
RW = 362,102 cm = 3621 m
Last we calculate area, in m2, then convert
to ha
Area = 3621 m * 3621 m = 13,111,641 m 2
Area = 13,111,641 m2 / 10,000 = 1,311 ha
xxxx
1
mi
=
xxxx
1
15840
1
15,840
22.86 cm
RW cm
