Final answer:
To calculate the actual distance from a map scale of 1:250,000 for an 8.5cm map distance, multiply the map distance by the scale factor, resulting in 21,250 meters.
Step-by-step explanation:
When working with a map's scale, the scale ratio indicates the relationship between a certain length on the map and the corresponding length on the ground. In this case, the scale 1:250,000 means that 1 centimeter on the map represents 250,000 centimeters in the real world.
To find the actual distance represented by 8.5 centimeters on the map, you multiply the map distance by the scale factor. So:
- 8.5 cm (map distance) × 250,000 (scale factor) = 2,125,000 cm
Since 100 centimeters make up 1 meter, we need to convert our result from centimeters to meters:
- 2,125,000 cm ÷ 100 = 21,250 meters
Therefore, the actual distance on the ground that corresponds to 8.5 centimeters on the map is 21,250 meters.