In map projections, the term 'conformal' means

In map projections, the term 'conformal' means

• A. Scale is the same in every direction from any point
• B. Angles are preserved, but scale varies with direction
• C. Distances are preserved along meridians
• D. Areas are preserved in size

Answer: (A)

Conformal maps preserve angles locally, so at any point the projection behaves like a rotation combined with uniform scaling. The scale factor is the same in every direction from that point, even though it may differ from point to point. That isotropic, angle-preserving behavior is why the description "scale is the same in every direction from any point" is the best match. If scale varied with direction, angles would be distorted, which contradicts conformality. Preserving distances along meridians or preserving areas are different properties and do not define conformal maps.