Lesson 22 — Activity 1: Distance on a Local Map



Getting Ready


In this activity, you will learn how to measure distances on a town map. Then, using the scale that you are given, you will be able to calculate how far it is from one place to another.


Think about This:

You will use the same town map that you used in L21 — A1. You will also need a ruler for this activity, which you will use to measure distances on your map.


Look at the town map once again below.



Courtesy of ADLC

 Notice the dotted lines on all of the roads and avenues. You will measure these lines with your ruler so that you can calculate the distances between places within this town. Click here to download and print this map.

For example, let's calculate the distance from the church to the ball diamond parking lot if we go on Highway 24.

Use your ruler to measure from the church out to the line on 4th Street. Then continue measuring over to the ball diamond parking lot. You should get these numbers:    

  • 0.8 cm from the church to 4th Street

  • 2.0 cm up to Highway 24
  • 7.0 cm to 5th Street on Highway 24
  • 6.5 cm from 5th Street to 6th Street on Highway 24
  • 1.6 cm down 6th Street to the turn into the parking lot
  • 0.4 cm into the parking lot


Add all of the distances up:

0.8 + 2.0 + 7.0 + 6.5 + 1.6 + 0.4 = 18.3 cm

If we use a scale of 1 cm = 10 metres, we can calculate the actual distance to be:

18.3 x 10 = 183 m


Were you able to get the same measurements as above? If not, do you see where you went wrong? It is very important to be precise when you are measuring on a map. If you are not precise, the actual distance will be off.

This can be very important in everyday life. Let's say you have a blueprint of your yard and have to figure out how many cement blocks you need to buy for that distance.

 Courtesy of Pixabay


If you are not precise, you might either buy too many and not be able to return them to the store, or you may buy too few and have to take the time to go back to the store to pick up some more blocks. 




  Self-check!

Try This!


Because you are going to be using the map throughout the self check and the quiz, take the time to measure all of the dotted lines and write them on the map. Please be accurate to the nearest tenth of a centimeter. Print the map again if needed and write the measurements on now.

How far is it from the ball diamond parking lot to the hospital?

The scale is 1 cm:10 m

You need to write the actual distance!

You should have all of your distances written down on your map now. Write the distances down, add them up, and multiply by 10 to get the actual distance! It's that simple!


0.4 cm+4.3 cm+0.8 cm+3.8 cm+1.8 cm+0.8 cm=11.9 cm

How far from the hospital to the grocery store? Remember the steps


0.8 cm+1.8 cm+3.0 cm+4.3 cm+2.0 cm+0.5 cm=12.4 cm


Try this activity to practice determining distances on a map. Use the town map you have printed in this activity or earlier in Lesson 21 — Activity 1: Sites within a Town (Note: you will also be using this map for your quiz).


Take some time measure all of the dotted lines with a ruler and write them on the map. Please measure with accuracy to the nearest tenth of a centimetre. In this activity, the map has a scale of  1 cm: 10 m. Using your measurements and the scale, answer the questions below.


How far is the actual walking distance from the diamond parking lot to the hospital?


0.4 cm+4.3 cm+0.8 cm+3.8 cm+1.8 cm+0.8 cm=11.9 cm

How far is the actual walking distance from the hospital to the grocery store?


0.8 cm+1.8 cm+3.0 cm+4.3 cm+2.0 cm+0.5 cm=12.4 cm