Overview

Scale is the relationship between distances on a map and the corresponding distance in the real world. Scale can be represented in three different ways: graphically, in an equation form and using a representative fraction. Since scale is a ratio, proportions can be used to scale down actual distances and scale up map distances. For this lesson, students will apply the idea of scale as a ratio to understand proportionality and how to solve problems involving proportions. To strengthen their understanding of proportion, students will graph relationships on the coordinate plane.