Chapter 10

Question 1

What is a legal description?

Answer 1

It is the property identification, measurements, and all necessary location information to identify a plot of land.

Question 2

What are the methods used to execute the legal description?

Answer 2

Metes and bounds - oldest measuring method in the United States. Surveyors use specific equipment.

Rectangular Government survey - The system is arranged in a series of grids with lines going north and south and other lines going east and west. Principal Meridians run North and South and Base lines run East and West.

Lot and Block number on a plat map

Question 3

What is a parcel number?

Answer 3

aids in the assessment of property for tax collection, each piece (parcel) of land is given a Parcel Number.

Question 4

What is a bench mark?

Answer 4

is a permanent brass plate, placed in the ground and it notates the feet above sea level at that location.

Question 5

What is Datum?

Answer 5

is the level plain which is used by the bench mark to determine elevation and from which the surveyor’s measuring begins.

Question 6

Formulas to remember when calculating total acreage

Answer 6

Area is always expressed in square feet or square yards

Area of a rectangle is Area = length x width

Area of a triangle is Area = 1/2 base x height

Volume is always expressed in cubic feet or cubic yards

Volume of a rectangle is Volume = length x width x depth

Volume of a triangular prismis Volume = 1/2 base x height x depth

Question 7

Important measurements

Answer 7

1 mile = 5,280 feet 
1 square yard = 9 square feet 
1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet 
1 square mile = 640 acres 
1 acre = 43,560 square feet.