NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Geography Practical Work in Geography I Chapter 2: Map Scale

Chapter at a glance

Exercise Questions

Question 1 (i)

Which one of the following methods of scale is a universal method?
(a) Simple Statement (b) Representative Fraction (c) Graphical Scale (d) None of the above

Answer

2. Representative Fraction

Question 1 (ii)

Map distance in a scale is also known as:
(a) Numerator (b) Denominator (c) Statement of Scale (d) Representative Fraction

Answer

1. Numerator

Question 1 (iii)

‘Numerator’ in scale represents:
(a) Ground distance (b) Map distance (c) Both the distances (d) None of the above

Answer

2. Map distance

Question 2 (i)

What are the two different systems of measurement?

Answer

1. Metric system — kilometre, metre, centimetre, millimetre (used in India and most countries).
2. English system — mile, furlong, yard, foot, inch (used in the USA and earlier in Britain).

The Metric system (km, m, cm) and the English system (mile, furlong, yard, foot, inch).

Question 2 (ii)

Give one example each of statement of scale in Metric and English system.

Answer

• Metric: 1 cm represents 10 km.
• English: 1 inch represents 4 miles.

Metric: 1 cm represents 10 km; English: 1 inch represents 4 miles.

Question 2 (iii)

Why is the Representative Fraction method called a Universal method?

Answer

The R.F. expresses the scale as a ratio without units (e.g. 1 : 100,000), with map and ground distances in the same unit. Any user can read it in their own system of measurement (cm, inches, etc.), so it can be understood anywhere in the world. Hence it is called a universal method.

Because it is a unitless ratio that can be read in any system of measurement anywhere in the world.

Question 2 (iv)

What are the major advantages of the graphical method?

Answer

1. Distances can be read directly from the map with a divider, without calculation.
2. The scale remains valid even when the map is enlarged or reduced (photocopied or printed in a different size), since the bar changes in the same proportion.
3. It is easy to understand even for people unfamiliar with R.F.

Distances can be read directly, and it remains correct when the map is enlarged or reduced.

Question 3 (i)

Convert the given Statement of Scale into Representative Fraction (R.F.): 5 cm represents 10 km.

Answer

Given: 5 cm represents 10 km.

1 cm represents 2 km cm

R.F. = 1 : 200,000

Question 3 (ii)

Convert the given Statement of Scale into Representative Fraction (R.F.): 2 inches represents 4 miles.

Answer

Given: 2 inches represent 4 miles, so 1 inch represents 2 miles.

1 mile = 63,360 inches, so 2 miles inches

R.F. = 1 : 126,720

Question 3 (iii)

Convert the given Statement of Scale into Representative Fraction (R.F.): 1 inch represents 1 yard.

Answer

1 yard = 36 inches

R.F. = 1 : 36

Question 3 (iv)

Convert the given Statement of Scale into Representative Fraction (R.F.): 1 cm represents 100 metres.

Answer

100 m cm

R.F. = 1 : 10,000

Question 4 (i)

Convert the given Representative Fraction (R.F.) into Statement of Scale: 1 : 100,000 (into km)

Answer

1 cm represents 100,000 cm km

1 cm represents 1 km

Question 4 (ii)

Convert the given Representative Fraction (R.F.) into Statement of Scale: 1 : 31680 (into furlongs)

Answer

1 inch represents 31,680 inches. 1 furlong = 220 yards = 7,920 inches.

furlongs

1 inch represents 4 furlongs

Question 4 (iii)

Convert the given Representative Fraction (R.F.) into Statement of Scale: 1 : 126,720 (into miles)

Answer

1 inch represents 126,720 inches miles

1 inch represents 2 miles

Question 4 (iv)

Convert the given Representative Fraction (R.F.) into Statement of Scale: 1 : 50,000 (into metres)

Answer

1 cm represents 50,000 cm metres

1 cm represents 500 metres

Answer

Given: R.F. = 1 : 50,000, so 1 cm represents 50,000 cm = 0.5 km.

Steps

1. A convenient length for a graphical scale is about 12–15 cm. Take 12 cm.
2. 12 cm represents km (a round number).

   

3. Draw a line 12 cm long and divide it into 6 equal primary divisions of 2 cm, each representing 1 km.
4. Divide the first (left) primary division into 5 secondary divisions of 0.4 cm, each representing 200 m.
5. Place zero at the end of the first primary division; number the primary divisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 km to the right and the secondary divisions 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000 m to the left.

A 12 cm line representing 6 km, divided into 1 km primary divisions (2 cm each), with the first division split into 200 m secondary divisions (0.4 cm each).

Topic checklist

• Meaning of scale; metric and English systems
• Statement of scale, R.F. and graphical scale
• Conversion between statement of scale and R.F.
• Construction of graphical scale

Total questions answered: 16 of 16