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Map Scale

Tool for calculating lengths according to drawing scales / maps scales / plans scales from the length as it is drawn or as actually measured.

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Map Scale -

Tag(s) : Arithmetics

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Map Scale

Size Calculator


Works with all measure units, do not write it



Paper Print Ratio Calculator




See also: Square Root

Scale Calculator



Answers to Questions (FAQ)

What is a map scale? (Definition)

A scale of a map (or a diagram or a drawing) is a ratio, a fraction between 2 numbers, the first represents the value measured on the map, the second its correspondence with the actual value of the element.

Example: A scale 1:100 is read 1 to 100 or 1 hundredth scale and means that 1 unit on the map corresponds to 100 units in reality. It can be 1cm (which will be 100cm) or 1km (which will be 100km). The plan is a shrinking 100 times smaller than reality.

Example: A scape 2:1 reads 2 to 1 and means that 2 units on the plane correspond to 1 in reality. This means that the plane is a magnification 2 times, a zoom x2 of reality.

How to calculate a map scale?

Measure an element on a drawing or a map and note its value $ a $ (any unit). Then measure this same element in reality and note its value $ b $ (same unit as $ a $). The scale is the result of dividing $ a / b $.

It is common to modify the writing of the fraction by putting it in the form of an irreducible fraction or to use the numerator $ 1 $ for reality-narrowing drawings, or use the denominator $ 1 $ for reality-enlarging drawings.

How to measure a length on a map to scale?

If a map is scaled, its measurements are proportional to reality, the coefficient of proportionality is the inverse of the value of the scale.

Example: 2cm on a scale drawing 1:10 (ie 1/10 whose inverse is '10/1 ') corresponds to 2*(10/1)=20cm in reality.

Conversely, starting from a real length, its multiplication by the scale makes it possible to calculate its length on the map.

Example: 20cm actually represent 2cm on a diagram with scale 1:10 because 20*(1/10)=2cm

How to convert from one paper size to another?

Standard paper sizes A0, A1, etc. have a ratio of $ \sqrt{2} $ from one format to the next.

Source code

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