NCERT Revision Notes for Class 5 Maths Chapter 14: Maps and Locations – Free PDF Download

Chapter 14 of Class 5 Maths, Maps and Locations, builds map-reading skills – understanding map symbols and legends, describing locations using directions and simple grid references, and reading scale to estimate real-world distances from a map.

Key Concepts

What a Map Shows

A map is a simplified, top-down (bird’s-eye view) drawing of a real place, showing the location of roads, buildings, rivers, and other features using symbols, rather than realistic pictures.

Map Symbols and Legend

Maps use small symbols to represent real features (a tree symbol for a park, a cross for a hospital, a specific icon for a school), and the legend (or key) explains what each symbol means, so anyone reading the map understands it the same way.

Directions on a Map

Maps are usually drawn with North at the top. The four main directions are North, South, East, and West; the four in-between directions are North-East, South-East, South-West, and North-West. A compass rose on a map shows which way is North.

Describing a Location

A location can be described relative to a known point using direction and distance (“the market is 2 km north of the school”) or using a simple grid system, where a map is divided into labelled rows and columns (like A1, B3) to pinpoint a specific square.

Map Scale

A map’s scale shows the relationship between a distance measured on the map and the real distance it represents, such as “1 cm = 1 km.” Measuring a distance on the map and applying the scale gives an estimate of the real-world distance.

Types of Maps

Different maps show different information for different purposes – a political map shows boundaries and cities, a physical map shows landforms like hills and rivers, and a route map (like a metro map) shows only the paths and stops needed for travel.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Using Scale

On a map with the scale 1 cm = 5 km, two towns are 3 cm apart on the map. What is the real distance between them?
3 × 5 = 15 km.

Example 2: Finding a Grid Location

A treasure is marked in the square where row C meets column 4 on a grid map. How would this location be written?
C4.

Example 3: Describing Direction

The library is directly to the right of the school on a map drawn with North at the top. In which direction is the library from the school?
East (right on a North-up map corresponds to East).

Quick Recap

• A map is a simplified top-down view of a real place, using symbols instead of realistic pictures.
• A legend explains what each symbol on a map means.
• Maps are usually drawn with North at the top; the compass rose shows direction.
• Grid references (like B3) pinpoint a specific square on a map for easy location description.
• A map’s scale (like 1 cm = 1 km) converts a measured map distance into a real-world distance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming “up” on every map always means North without checking the compass rose – most, but not all, maps follow this convention.
• Forgetting to check the legend and guessing what a map symbol means.
• Confusing East and West – East is to the right and West is to the left when North is at the top and you are facing the map.
• Multiplying instead of applying the scale ratio correctly, or forgetting to measure the map distance carefully before applying the scale.
• Mixing up row and column order when reading or writing a grid reference (usually column first, then row, or as specified by the map’s own labelling).

Home Practice Tips

• Draw a simple map of your classroom or home, adding a legend for a few symbols (door, window, table).
• Use a real road map or map app to identify the compass directions between two familiar places.
• Practise applying a scale by measuring a distance on a printed map with a ruler and converting it using the given scale.
• Create a simple grid map of a garden or park and mark a few locations using grid references.
• Look at a metro or bus route map and describe how to get from one stop to another using directions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why do maps use symbols instead of detailed pictures?
Symbols keep a map simple, quick to read, and consistent, allowing a small icon to instantly represent a feature like a hospital or school without needing space for a detailed drawing.

Q2. Why is North usually placed at the top of a map?
It is a widely followed convention (not a strict rule) that helps people orient themselves consistently across different maps, though a compass rose should always be checked to confirm the actual direction of North.

Q3. How does a grid reference help describe a location?
It narrows a location down to one small, labelled square on the map, making it quick and precise to communicate a spot without needing a lengthy direction-and-distance description.

Q4. What does a map scale of “1 cm = 1 km” actually mean?
It means every centimetre measured on the map represents one kilometre of real, actual distance on the ground, so measuring the map distance and multiplying by the scale gives the real-world distance.

Q5. Why do different maps of the same area look different?
Because different maps are made for different purposes – a political map focuses on boundaries and cities, a physical map focuses on landforms, and a route map focuses only on paths and stops relevant to travel.

Full walkthrough: Chapter 14 Solutions · Extra Questions.

Written by Satish

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