A map extent that represents the ratio of a distance on the map to the actual distance on the ground. Map scales are represented as fractions so a map of a smaller area with more detail is considered having a larger scale than a larger area with less detail because the fraction is larger. For example, a neighborhood map may have a scale fraction of 1/10,000. This is much larger than a scale fraction 1/100,000,000 used for a world map. See also map extent.