Question

Help please The actual distance between Apple Street and Pear Road is 8 miles. On a map, the distance is 3.5 inches. What proportion can you form to determine the scale on the map? 1 inch = ?

Answer 1

1 in on the map =
`(16)/(7)\ miles` on the street

Explanation:

Represent the actual distance as y and the map distance as x

So:

x = 3.5in when y = 8 miles

Required

Determine the proportion

The proportion of map measurement to actual measurement is:

`x : y`

This gives:

`3.5\ in : 8\ miles`

Divide by 3.5

`(3.5\ in)/(3.5) : (8\ miles)/(3.5)`

`1\ in: (8\ miles)/(3.5)`

Simplify the fraction

`1\ in: (8 * 2\ miles)/(3.5*2)`

`1\ in: (16\ miles)/(7)`

`1\ in: (16)/(7)\ miles`

This means that:

1 in on the map =
`(16)/(7)\ miles` on the street