On a map with a scale of 1:50,000, how many centimeters on the map represent 5 kilometers in reality?

On a map with a scale of 1:50,000, how many centimeters on the map represent 5 kilometers in reality?

• A. 5 cm
• B. 15 cm
• C. 10 cm
• D. 20 cm

Answer: (C)

Understanding map scale is the key: a scale of 1:50,000 means 1 unit on the map represents 50,000 of those units in real life. To compare distances, use the same units. Convert 5 kilometers to centimeters: 5 km equals 500,000 cm. Each centimeter on the map then represents 50,000 cm in reality, so the map distance for 5 km is 500,000 ÷ 50,000 = 10 cm. Equivalently, 1 cm on the map equals 0.5 km in reality, so 5 km would be 10 cm on the map. Therefore, the distance on the map is 10 cm.

Understanding map scale is the key: a scale of 1:50,000 means 1 unit on the map represents 50,000 of those units in real life. To compare distances, use the same units. Convert 5 kilometers to centimeters: 5 km equals 500,000 cm. Each centimeter on the map then represents 50,000 cm in reality, so the map distance for 5 km is 500,000 ÷ 50,000 = 10 cm. Equivalently, 1 cm on the map equals 0.5 km in reality, so 5 km would be 10 cm on the map. Therefore, the distance on the map is 10 cm.