What are the five elements of a map? - ProProfs Discuss
Advertisement

What are the five elements of a map?



Asked by Jeremyj, Last updated: Apr 11, 2024

+ Answer
Request
Question menu
Vote up Vote down

14 Answers

H. Martin

H. Martin

H. Martin
H. Martin, Content Writer, Charlotte

Answered Jan 09, 2019

The five essential elements of a map are a compass, legend, the title, an inset map, and a scale. These are important because these five things help explain the information on the map.

Elements of a map are the term used to describe the various bits of information provided on a map, generally in the margins, which helps establish how much space will be equal to a set distance and is often seen at the bottom of the map. Keys are also commonly seen on maps. This feature includes all symbols and lines as well as their meaning.

upvote 1 downvote
Reply 

K. Gibson

K. Gibson

Get immense pleasure in traveling and writing about visiting places.

K. Gibson
K. Gibson, Corporate employee, MA, Gloucester

Answered Dec 03, 2020

The five basic elements of a map are listed below:

1. Map Heading or Title: this is a section that is usually found at the top of your map, and probably boldly written. The title of the map tells you exactly what the map is trying to describe.

2. Map Key or Legend: the keys or legends of your map are somewhat symbols that represent some information on your map, and this prevents your map from being crowded with too many words. The representation of these symbols is usually written on a side of your map.

3. Scale Indicator: your scale indicator typically tells you about the measurement representation of your map. As it is known that your map is way smaller than the actual distance in reality, hence the scale indicator provides information about that as needed.

4. Grids: these are lines that usually represent the longitude and latitude. Whichever, the name of its representation is usually written at the end of the line.

5. North Arrow or Compass Rose: this is an indicator on your map that shows the cardinal points.

upvote downvote
Reply 

D. Nichols

D. Nichols

D. Nichols
D. Nichols

Answered Oct 22, 2020

The correct answer to this question is the title, legend, grid, directions, and scale. The title of the map helps the reader of the map know what the map is depicting. An example of a title would be "The Map of the United States."

The legend is also known as the key of the map. It uses symbols to help represent what each item is on the map. For example, it may use a symbol to identify a landmark. The grid adds longitude and latitude marks. Directions on the map identify which direction the map is going in. Those directions are north, south, east, and west. The scale shows the relationship between reality and distance.

upvote downvote
Reply 

N. Jarah

N. Jarah

N. Jarah
N. Jarah

Answered Sep 25, 2020

Maps will always contain a lot of information that will allow you to know more about the different areas that are available. The five things that you can expect maps to have are the following: Title, legend, grid, compass rose, and a scale.

Take note that these are all meant to help you understand details about the different places that are available. The scale will be able to help you relate the different items that can be found on the map from one thing to another.

The legend will help you understand more about how the details of the map can be understood especially depending on the given colors or symbols.

upvote downvote
Reply 

Charlie Rogers

Charlie Rogers

Management is the key to success

Charlie Rogers
Charlie Rogers, Manager, Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS), Lexington, Kentucky

Answered Sep 21, 2020

The five elements of a map include title, legend, grid, directions, and a scale.

• The title of your map should reveal basic information about the map, such as the area symbolized.

• The legend is also identified as the key.

• It explains what symbols are used on that specific map and what each symbol represents, such as a landmark.

• The grid most commonly represents the geographic grid system or latitude and longitude marks to find an exact location.

• Latitude is flat, while longitude is long, up and down.

• The direction refers to the compass on the map to indicate which direction to go, north, south, east, or west.

• Scale demonstrates the relationship between a certain distance on the map and the actual distance in real life.

• A scale provides an example of what distance is in reality.

upvote downvote
Reply 

H. Barnes

H. Barnes

Subscribe to Pewdiepie

H. Barnes
H. Barnes, Unemployed, Barnes, Atlanta

Answered Sep 18, 2020

There is a good reason why maps are being used by a lot of people in this world. Maps contain a lot of information about the different places found all over the world. Even before the appearance of the internet, people can already gain a lot of information from maps.

Most maps will contain these five things: tile, legend, grid, compass rose, and the scale. The title will tell you what is being shown on the map. For the compass rose; this is something that you need so that you will know the direction that you are looking for. The different elements of a map will provide you with all the information that you need.

upvote downvote
Reply 

suman_Saurav

suman_Saurav

suman_Saurav
Suman_Saurav, Web Application Developer, Noida

Answered Mar 30, 2020

The five essential elements of a map are a compass, legend, the title, an inset map, and a scale. These are important because these five things help explain

upvote downvote
Reply 

Victor Roy

Victor Roy

Victor Roy
Victor Roy, Development Admin

Answered Mar 25, 2020

The map has some basic elements that will allow you to read and understand the map better. These five elements include the compass, title, legend, inset map, and the scale. The more that you know about these five elements, the more that you will get to understand how the map should be used. The title will allow you to know the current direction of the location.

upvote downvote
Reply 

N. Jarah

N. Jarah

N. Jarah
N. Jarah

Answered Mar 25, 2020

The correct answer to this question is B, Title, scale, compass rose, inset map, and legend. All five of these things are important because they help to explain the information that is found on a map. The title of a map is a keyword or two that grabs the attention of the reader.

Direction on a map is shown through a compass. It helps the reader correlate the directions to the real world. A legend helps the reader decode the various symbols on a map. Scale is also known as the distance, which shows distance in a graph or numeric format.

upvote downvote
Reply 

Malcolm Carneal

Malcolm Carneal

Get immense pleasure in traveling and writing about visiting places.

Malcolm Carneal
Malcolm Carneal, Digital Nomad, MCA, Vienna

Answered Mar 25, 2020

Why is there a need to know the basic elements of a map? This is easy. You need to know how to read the map so that you can use it properly. It will help to become familiar with the various elements because this way, you will immediately know how to use it. The color of the map may sometimes show what continents you are looking at.

The compass rose is another element because this will provide you with the direction where the map is facing. The legend is another element of the map available. This will provide you with more details regarding the various things that you can see on the map. The data frame will provide you with the data layers that you are looking for. The north arrow is the last element that you are searching for at this time.

upvote downvote
Reply 

M. Delilah

M. Delilah

M. Delilah
M. Delilah

Answered Mar 25, 2020

A good map should have five elements. These five elements are compass, title, scale, compass rose, inset map, and legend.

The title is a very important element. This gives basic information about the area that the map represents.

Scale: the scale shows the relationship between the real-life distance and the distance represented on the map. For instance, an inch on the map can represent a mile in actual life.

Compass rose: a compass rose is used to show the cardinal directions. It can be represented in verbal, numeric, or graphic form.

Inset map: is a small map that is provided on the large map. This highlights a specific geographical location.

Legend: it is also known as the “key.” This explains the symbols used on the map.

upvote downvote
Reply 

E.Emily

E.Emily

E.Emily
E.Emily

Answered Mar 12, 2020

The map has some basic elements that will allow you to read and understand the map better. These five elements include the compass, title, legend, inset map, and the scale. The more that you know about these five elements, the more that you will get to understand how the map should be used. The title will allow you to know the current direction of the location.
It also helps if you know the legend; otherwise, how will you know what the different symbols and colors represent. Can you imagine if you would look at the map and not know what to search for? The map will not be very useful to you if that’s the case.
upvote downvote
Reply 

joshua

joshua

joshua
Joshua

Answered Oct 28, 2019

Ttle symbols scale labels legend and compass

upvote downvote
Reply 

jeremyj4400

jeremyj

jeremyj4400
Jeremyj

Answered Sep 03, 2017

Title, scale, compass rose, inset map, and legend
upvote downvote
Reply 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Search for Google images Google Image Icon
Select a recommended image
Upload from your computer Loader
Image Preview
Search for Google images Google Image Icon
Select a recommended image
Upload from your computer Loader
Image Preview
Search for Google images Google Image Icon
Select a recommended image
Upload from your computer Loader

Email Sent
We have sent an email to your address "" with instructions to reset your password.