What is an indication of the relationship between the distances on a map and the corresponding actual distances?
Geography
Scale
Distortion
Pattern
Scale
The indication of the relationship between the distances on a map and the corresponding actual distances is called the scale. The scale is a ratio or representative fraction that expresses the proportional relationship between a distance on the map and the corresponding distance on the ground. It helps to convert map distances to real-world distances. Scale can be represented as a statement, a graphic scale, or a line scale on a map.
The indication of the relationship between the distances on a map and the corresponding actual distances is known as the scale. Scale is a fundamental concept in geography and cartography that represents the ratio or relationship between a distance or area on a map and the actual distance or area that it represents on the Earth's surface.
To determine the scale of a map, you can typically find it in the map's legend or key. The scale is often expressed in two different ways: as a representative fraction (e.g., 1:100,000) or as a verbal scale (e.g., "1 inch equals 10 miles").
A representative fraction scale indicates how much the distance on the map represents the actual distance on the ground. For example, a scale of 1:100,000 means that one unit of length on the map represents 100,000 units of length on the Earth's surface. If you measure a distance of 1 inch on the map, it would actually be 100,000 inches (or about 1.58 miles) in real life.
A verbal scale provides a clear statement of the relationship between map and real distances using words. For instance, a verbal scale of "1 inch equals 10 miles" means that one inch on the map represents 10 miles on the Earth's surface.
It's important to note that distortions can occur on maps depending on the type of projection used. Distortion refers to the alterations or variations in size, shape, distance, or direction that can occur when representing the curved surface of the Earth on a flat map. Different map projections prioritize different characteristics, and as a result, distortions may be present. However, the scale itself remains a constant representation of the relationship between distances on the map and real-world distances.