Which map projection property ensures that areas on the map are proportional to actual areas on Earth?

• A. Equal-area
• B. Equidistant
• C. Rhumb line
• D. The dimensions of a sector

Answer: (A)

Areas on a map being proportional to real areas is achieved by using an equal-area projection. In such a projection, the size of every region on the map is scaled so that it represents the same fraction of the Earth's surface as it does in reality. That means a country with twice the area of another will appear twice as large on the map, regardless of how their shapes might be stretched or distorted. This focus on preserving area fidelity often comes at the expense of accurate shapes or distances, but it ensures meaningful comparisons of size across the globe.

The other ideas aren’t about preserving area. Equidistant projections aim to keep some distances accurate, typically from a center or along certain lines, but not all areas in proportion. A rhumb line is about lines of constant bearing, not about area preservation. And “dimensions of a sector” isn’t a standard projection property.