A route is the way you travel from one place to another. You can trace a route on a map with your finger.
Key idea
To measure a route on a town map, count the blocks you walk. The route with fewer blocks is shorter.
Worked example: Two routes to the library
From the house at the top left, Route 1 goes 2 blocks south, then 2 blocks east. Route 2 goes 1 block east, 2 blocks south, then 1 block east. Which is shorter?
- Route 1: 2 + 2 = 4 blocks.
- Route 2: 1 + 2 + 1 = 4 blocks.
- They are the same length. Either route works.
Answer: Neither: both are 4 blocks.
Why it works
In a town you can only walk on streets and paths. You cannot walk through a building or a fence. So the way that looks straightest on the map is not always a way you can go; counting blocks along the streets tells the truth.
Common mistake
Children draw a straight line right through houses and parks, or count the starting square. Follow the streets, and start counting at the first block you walk.
For the grown-up. On your next walk, choose two ways home and count the blocks of each. Which is shorter?