If we wanted to draw a true-size map of Leixlip we would need a sheet of paper as large as Leixlip.
To solve the problem of size, we draw maps to scale. This means that any length or distance on the map equals a number of the same lengths or distances on the ground.
If the scale of a map is 1:1000, then one unit of length on the map equals 1000 units of the same length on the ground.
When people plan journeys they need to know what distances they will travel. There are several ways of doing this.
We can look at road-signs that tell us about the length of journeys. We can also use maps to get an idea of the distances between places.
