These help us to work out distances on maps. This is given by the scale statement (eg 1:25,000) and/or by showing a scale bar. The scale shows how much bigger the real world is than the map.

Scale is usually written on a map as a ratio. For example 1:25000. Scale can also be shown using a scale bar. You can work out your location using the numbered gridlines on an Ordnance Survey (OS ...