If a model of a car has a scale of 1:200, how many times smaller is the model car than an actual car? If Africa is represented on a map with a scale of 1: 5 000 000, how many times bigger is the actual continent of Africa compared to how it is drawn on the map?

Scale given: $1:50$.

This means 1 unit on the model $= 50$ units on the actual car.

Ratio of actual car to model $= 50$.

The model is $\mathbf{50}$ times smaller than the actual car.

Scale given: $1:500\,000$.

In words: 1 to $500\,000$.

$\mathbf{1 \text{ to } 500\,000}$ (one to five hundred thousand).

Measure the straight line distance from A to B on the map (using ruler).

Let map distance $= d$ cm (to be measured from map).

Map distance $= \mathbf{d}$ cm (measure from map image).

Types of scales:

• 1 cm to 20 km: written scale (or verbal/statement scale).

• $1:500\,000$: ratio scale (or representative fraction scale).

• 3400 m (or 500 m bar): graphical scale (or bar scale/line scale).

$$\begin{array}{|c|c|c|} \hline \text{No} & \text{Scale} & \text{Type of scale} \\ \hline 1 & 1\text{ cm to }20\text{ km} & \text{written scale} \\ \hline 2 & 1:500\,000 & \text{ratio scale} \\ \hline 3 & 3400\text{ m} & \text{graphical scale} \\ \hline 4 & 500\text{ m} & \text{graphical scale} \\ \hline \end{array}$$