Final answer:
The United States paid approximately $7.2 million to Russia for Alaska.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million. The area of Alaska is approximately 5.9 x 10^5 square miles.
To find out approximately how much the United States paid Russia for Alaska, we can divide the total purchase price by the area of Alaska. So, $7.2 million divided by 5.9 x 10^5 square miles equals approximately $12.20 per square mile.
Therefore, the United States paid Russia approximately $12.20 per square mile for Alaska. To find out the total amount, we can multiply the price per square mile by the area of Alaska.
So, $12.20 per square mile multiplied by 5.9 x 10^5 square miles equals approximately $7.2 million.