A graphical representation of a guide to the map's symbology is best shown by?

A graphical representation of a guide to the map's symbology is best shown by the legend. The legend serves as a key that explains what the various symbols, colors, and patterns on a map represent. It provides essential information for users to effectively interpret the map's features, such as distinguishing between different types of roads, land use categories, water bodies, and other thematic elements depicted.

Including a legend is crucial in making a map user-friendly, as it enhances comprehension and allows readers to accurately understand the spatial information being presented. The legend often includes visual representations of the symbols alongside their corresponding labels, making it easy for users to correlate the symbols with real-world entities. This is why a well-designed map will prominently feature a legend to support its symbology and ensure that the map serves its intended purpose of communication and analysis.

In contrast, other elements like the scale bar, north arrow, and graphic scale serve different functions on a map, such as indicating distance or direction, and do not provide information about the symbols used.