How is a ruler used with a map scale?
Maps can be drawn to any scale–a few city blocks or an entire country. Map makers get around this problem by giving a scale–a small diagram that equates a map distance with an actual distance.HistoryThe oldest known maps are preserved on Babylonian clay tablets from about 2,300 B.C. Ancient maps–up to the middle ages–did not have scales. It was up to the reader to figure out what the scale was. These maps were all hand drawn and wildly out of proportion so a scale would have had little meaning.FunctionThe function of any map is to orient the map reader. Once the reader locates himself–and his goal–on the map, it is easy to answer important questions like “which way should I go?” and–if there is a scale–“How long will it take to reach my goal?”ConsiderationsThe scale can be given in words: “One inch equals 100 miles.” or graphically. A graphical scale might show a line 1 inch long labeled 100 miles. In either case, distances can be calculated by measuring with a ruler to find th
