Expert: Steve Holleran - 4/12/2008

Question
1) a scale of 1:200 is used to draw a line representing a distance of 5m. What is the actual length of the line?

2）The scale on a mpa is 1:25000. What distance is represented by a length of 33mm on the map.

3) A scale of 10:1 is used to draw a line which is to represent an actual disatnce of 5mm. what would the length of the line be??


could you please show the working out steps as i do not understand the question

Answer
Hi Jessie,

When scale is used, it commonly is set up drawing/actual, and

I think the easiest way to do these is to set up proportions:

1.            1 / 200 = x / 5  so x = 1/40 m

2.           1 / 25000 = 33mm / x  so x = 33 * 25000 = 825,000 mm

                      = 825 m

3.            10 / 1 = x / 5

             so x = 5 * 10 = 50 mm

Hope this helps.
Steve