Examine the Ordnance Survey map supplied - Junior Cycle Geography - Question 1 - 2007

To determine the area represented by the map extract, first refer to the scale of the Ordnance Survey map. If the map has a scale of 1:50,000, it means that 1 cm on the map corresponds to 50,000 cm in reality.

1. Calculate the dimensions on the map: Measure the length and width of the area of interest on the map.

2. Convert the dimensions to real-world measurements: Multiply the map measurements by the scale factor. For example, if the length on the map is 5 cm and the width is 3 cm:

   • Length = 5 cm × 50,000 cm/cm = 250,000 cm = 2.5 km
   • Width = 3 cm × 50,000 cm/cm = 150,000 cm = 1.5 km

3. Calculate the area: Use the formula for the area of a rectangle:

   $Area = Length × Width$

   Plugging in the values gives:

   $Area = 2.5 ext{ km} × 1.5 ext{ km} = 3.75 ext{ km}^2$

4. Final Confirmation: Verify that the total area correctly corresponds to the scale and the dimensions provided.

In this case, it is specified that the area represented by the map extract is 108 square kilometres as per the marking scheme.