Question

The actual distance from the post office to an elementary school is 16.5 miles. A city map uses a scale of 1/2 inch to represent 15 miles. Which of these best represents the distance in inches on the map between the post office and the elementary school?

a) 0.55 inches
b) 0.5 inches
c) 0.75 inches
d) 1 inch

Answer 1

Using the scale of 1/2 inch to 15 miles, the distance on the map between the post office and the elementary school, which is actually 16.5 miles apart, is calculated to be 0.55 inches.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the distance in inches on a map between the post office and the elementary school, we can use the scale given and set up a proportion. The scale is 1/2 inch to represent 15 miles. Since the actual distance between the post office and the school is 16.5 miles, we can set up our proportion as follows:

(1/2 inch / 15 miles) = (x inches / 16.5 miles)

To solve for x, cross-multiply and divide:

(1/2) * 16.5 = 15 * x

8.25 = 15x

Divide both sides by 15:

x = 8.25 / 15

x = 0.55 inches

Thus, the distance on the map between the post office and the elementary school is 0.55 inches, which corresponds to option a).