Question

Differentiate between formal regions and functional regions.

Differentiate between functional region and formal region.

Answer 1

Sr. No.	Formal regions	Functional regions
1.	A formal region is an area inhabited by people who have one or more characteristics in common.	A functional region is an area organized to function socially and economically as a single unit.
2.	Shared characteristics may be a common language, economic activities, such as a particular crop production, or physical characteristics, such as the climate of an area.	Functional regions are not bound by any formal characteristic but by a function because that function binds these regions together.
3.	Both, physical and political regions are formal regions but they are distinct from each other.	A functional region may involve more than one type of physical or political regions but still it can be one.
4.	E.g. Europe, Africa, the United States, Canada, Assam and West Bengal, etc.	E.g. television signal areas of a TV tower, Wireless, Wi-Fi hotspots or pizza delivery areas served by a pizza outlet or milk served by a milk centre.

Answer 2

	Functional region	Formal region
(1)	Specific to one area.	Often physical in nature.
(2)	Areas organised around a node or focus one point like university, airport, etc.	Has specific boundaries that set them apart.
(3)	This region has no common characteristics, but functions are more important. Functions bind regions together.	This region has some common characteristics such as common economic activity or common language.
(4)	Often, a metropolitan area consists of a major city and many smaller towns.	Homogeneous areas or habitats inhabited by social groups, societies or nations.
(5)	The region is tied to a central point by a transportation system or economic or functional associations.	Organised and represented by small systems or part systems.
(6)	It functions and works together to form a part of an economic and social system.	Has clear-cut political boundaries.
(7)	Defined by a set of activities.	Defined by common political units where everyone is subject to the same law and government.