A map projection that preserves angles locally but distorts other properties is known as?

A map projection that preserves angles locally but distorts other properties is known as?

• A. Conformal
• B. Equal-area
• C. Equidistant
• D. Perspective

Answer: (A)

Preserving angles locally means that tiny, nearby shapes are shown with their true directions, so the angles between lines are kept intact in a small neighborhood. Projections with this property are called conformal. They preserve local shapes, but the scale varies across the map, which distorts areas and distances elsewhere. A classic example is the Mercator projection, which keeps angles but greatly enlarges areas toward the poles. Equal-area projections keep area accurate but distort shapes; equidistant projections preserve certain distances but not overall shapes; perspective projections simulate a viewpoint and don’t generally preserve angles. So, the term that fits is conformal.

Preserving angles locally means that tiny, nearby shapes are shown with their true directions, so the angles between lines are kept intact in a small neighborhood. Projections with this property are called conformal. They preserve local shapes, but the scale varies across the map, which distorts areas and distances elsewhere. A classic example is the Mercator projection, which keeps angles but greatly enlarges areas toward the poles. Equal-area projections keep area accurate but distort shapes; equidistant projections preserve certain distances but not overall shapes; perspective projections simulate a viewpoint and don’t generally preserve angles. So, the term that fits is conformal.