How Do You Use the Scale on a Map to Find an Actual Distance?

Note:

Maps help us get from one place to another. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to use a map to find an actual distance.

Keywords:

Problem
ratios
scale
map
distance

Background Tutorials

Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes.
- How Do You Measure an Object in Inches Using a Ruler?
  
  Measuring is a building block of math and understanding the world around us. This tutorial shows you how to measure an object in inches using a ruler.
Understand the concept of a ratio and use ratio language to describe a ratio relationship between two quantities.
- What's a Ratio?
  
  Ratios are everywhere! The scale on a map or blueprint is a ratio. Ingredients sometimes need to be mixed using ratios such as the ratio of water to cement mix when making cement. Watch this tutorial to learn about ratios. Then think of some ratios you've encountered before!
Decide whether two quantities are in a proportional relationship, e.g., by testing for equivalent ratios in a table or graphing on a coordinate plane and observing whether the graph is a straight line through the origin.
- What's a Proportion?
  
  The idea of proportions is that a ratio can be written in many ways and still be equal to the same value. That's why proportions are actually equations with equal ratios. This is a bit of a tricky definition, so make sure to watch the tutorial!
Use proportional relationships to solve multistep ratio and percent problems.
- How Do You Solve a Proportion Using Cross Products?
  
  Want to solve a percent proportion? Just use the means extremes property of proportions to cross multiply! Solve for the variable, and you have your answer! Learn how with this tutorial.
Solve problems involving scale drawings of geometric figures, including computing actual lengths and areas from a scale drawing and reproducing a scale drawing at a different scale.
- What is a Scale Drawing?
  
  Without a blueprint, it would be really hard to construct a building. Without a road map, you'd be lost! Scale drawings make it easy to see large things, like buildings and roads, on paper. Even a GPS uses scale drawings! Check out this tutorial to learn all about scale drawings.
- What is a Scale?
  
  In math, the term scale is used to represent the relationship between a measurement on a model and the corresponding measurement on the actual object. Without scales, maps and blueprints would be pretty useless. Check out this tutorial and learn about scale factor!