Question

A map of the United States shows the cities of Chicago and Pittsburgh 2 inches apart. The distance between these two cities is 462 miles. Chicago and Washington, D.C. are 3 inches apart on the map. What is the distance (in miles) between Chicago and Washington, D.C.?

Answer 1

Using the scale of 2 inches to 462 miles from the Chicago to Pittsburgh distance, the distance between Chicago and Washington, D.C., which are 3 inches apart on the map, is calculated to be 693 miles.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the distance between Chicago and Washington, D.C. based on a map scale, we need to set up a proportion using the known scale between Chicago and Pittsburgh. According to the map, Chicago and Pittsburgh are 2 inches apart and the actual distance is 462 miles. This gives us a scale of 2 inches to 462 miles, or 1 inch is equivalent to 231 miles. Since Chicago and Washington, D.C. are 3 inches apart on the map, we can calculate the actual distance by multiplying the per inch scale (231 miles) by the number of inches (3).

The calculation would be:
231 miles/inch × 3 inches = 693 miles.

Therefore, the distance between Chicago and Washington, D.C. is 693 miles.