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 ...

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.