Final answer:
To find the map distance for cities that are 725 miles apart using a scale of 3 cm = 250 miles, set up a proportion and solve for x, yielding an approximate map distance of 8.7 cm.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine how far apart two cities are on a map when given the actual distance and the scale of the map, we can set up a proportion based on the scale provided. The scale on the map is given as 3 cm = 250 miles. We are trying to find out the corresponding map distance for 725 miles.
The proportion can be set up as follows:
- Write the scale as a ratio: 3 cm / 250 miles
- Set up the proportion with the actual distance: x cm / 725 miles, where x represents the distance on the map in centimeters.
- Now, solve the proportion for x:
3 cm : 250 miles = x cm : 725 miles
Cross-multiply and solve for x:
250x = 3 * 725
x = (3 * 725) / 250
x = 2175 / 250
x = 8.7 cm
Therefore, the cities are approximately 8.7 cm apart on the map.