Final answer:
7.5' USGS maps usually span about 8 miles both north to south and east to west, providing detailed topographic information at a 1:24,000 scale.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 7.5' maps made by the USGS (United States Geological Survey) represent topographic maps that cover an area which is 7.5 minutes of latitude and longitude tall and wide. While the distance this spans can vary slightly due to the curvature of the Earth, especially in the north-south direction, on average, these maps cover a range of about 8 miles north to south and about 8 miles east to west at a scale of 1:24,000.
This means that one inch on the map equals 24,000 inches in the real world (approximately 0.4 miles). These maps are incredibly detailed, making them useful for a wide variety of activities including hiking, planning, and land management.