Use the map's direction and scale. Measure the actual route when the question asks how far someone travels.
Read a map's title, date, legend and orientation before measuring it. In the practice map, north is up and each square represents 100 m. The park lies 200 m east and 200 m north of the school, so its direction from the school is north-east.
The marked route through the library is 200 m east plus 200 m north: 400 m in total. The straight diagonal is shorter, about 283 m, but it is not shown as an available path. Use the distance the question asks for.
Latitude gives angular position north or south of the equator. Longitude gives angular position east or west of the prime meridian. Write latitude first, then longitude, with their directions. The teaching location 1.30 degrees N, 103.80 degrees E lies north of the equator and east of the prime meridian. Compare both coordinates when finding a relative direction; longitude is not a distance in kilometres.
A ratio scale of 1:10,000 means 1 cm on the original-sized map represents 10,000 cm, or 100 m, on the ground. A 4 cm route therefore represents 400 m. Screens can resize maps, so use the scale bar or stated grid spacing instead of measuring the screen in centimetres.
When making a map, use points for sites, lines for routes and shapes or polygons for areas. Include a title, date, orientation, scale, legend, author and sources.
Step by step
Orient and locate
Use north and coordinates to identify a position and relative direction.
Measure the right thing
Trace the available route rather than substituting a straight line.
Convert and communicate
Apply the stated scale and give the unit; make your legend and source clear.
Worked example: Do not reverse the direction
If the park is north-east of the school, the school is south-west of the park. Always identify the reference point in the question before giving a direction.
Watch out for this
A displayed map can always be measured with a ruler using its printed ratio.
Resizing changes the centimetre length on screen. A scale bar resized with the map or a stated grid distance remains usable.
Check your understanding
Using the practice map, how long is the school-library-park route?
- 200 m, because only the eastward part counts.
- About 283 m, because every journey follows the straight diagonal.
- 400 m, adding the 200 m eastward and 200 m northward sections.