If two maps are 1:100000 and one is printed on larger paper, which is the smaller scale map?

The concept of map scale refers to the relationship between distance on the map and the corresponding distance on the ground. A scale provided as a ratio, like 1:100,000, indicates that one unit of measurement on the map equals 100,000 of the same units on the ground.

In this scenario, both maps are at the same scale of 1:100,000. This means they represent the same level of detail and cover the same area of the real world, regardless of the physical size of the paper on which they are printed. The level of detail remains constant, so whether a map is printed on larger or smaller paper does not affect its scale.

Consequently, since both maps are at the same scale of 1:100,000, they can be considered equivalent regarding the amount of detail and geographic area represented. This leads to the conclusion that both maps are the same in terms of scale, despite their different physical sizes.