Scale Maps and Plans

A scale such as \(1:50\,000\) means every real length is \(50\,000\) times its length on the map or plan. In NSW Year 8 maths, a scale is treated as a ratio of two lengths written in the same unit (NESA outcome MA4‑RAT‑C‑01).

You will write scales such as \(1\) cm to \(200\) m in the form \(1:n\), read scale bars, and change map distances into real distances and back, moving between millimetres, centimetres, metres and kilometres. You will also find real areas from a floor plan, compare one trail on two maps with different scales, choose the largest scale that fits a page, and find the scale of a half-size photocopy. Bushwalk maps, bedrooms and school ovals all appear. It is part of Year 8 Time and Travel.