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.