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13.01 Using maps

Lesson

Are you ready?

Let's review how to  use a grid  to describe a position.

Examples

Example 1

What is the location of the carrots?

A grid with images of objects placed in different positions. Ask your teacher for more information.
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

State the column and row that the carrots are in.

Apply the idea

The carrots are in column A, row 4.

Idea summary

We label our grid using letters, across the top or bottom, and numbers down the sides. Our grid reference starts with the letter first, then the number.

Find objects on a map

Let's see how to interpret grid references to locate an object on a map, and also how to write grid references to describe a position. We look at a map of Tokyo, a city in Asia.

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Examples

Example 2

What are the grid coordinates for Tarrin?

An image showing a map with grid references. Ask your teacher for more information.
A
\text{B}2
B
\text{G}2
C
\text{D}4
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Locate the place and write the grid coordinates using the column letter and the row number.

Apply the idea

Tarrin is in column G and row 2, so its coordinates is \text{G}2.

The correct option is B.

Idea summary

The coordinate grid reference tells us how to find things on a map, or how to describe a location on a map. We always start with the letter, then the number. The scale on a map tells us how far something is in real life, and can be different on different maps.

Grid references

Now we look at a country map in Australia, and see how it differs to a map of a city.

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Examples

Example 3

This is a map of where Brad and Edward live. The side of a small square on the map represents 100 m.

A map with 8 columns labelled A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and 8 rows. Ask your teacher for more information.

Brad is on the corner of Top Lane and Mountain Way (map reference \text{C}1). He walks 200 metres along Top Lane to Edward's house. What is the map reference of Edward's house?

A
\text{E}5
B
\text{E}2
C
\text{D}3
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

We need to start at \text{C}1 and then follow Top Lane for 200 m.

Apply the idea

A distance of 100 m is represented by the side length of 1 square.

This means that 200 m is the side length of 2 squares.

So, Edward's house is at \text{D}3 and the correct option is C.

Idea summary

The grid reference tells us how to find things on a map, or how to describe a location on a map. We always start with the letter, then the number. The scale on a map tells us how far something is in real life, and can be different on different maps.

Outcomes

MA3-8NA

analyses and creates geometric and number patterns, constructs and completes number sentences, and locates points on the Cartesian plane

MA3-17MG

locates and describes position on maps using a grid-reference system

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