Question

A map that was createdusing a scale of 1 inch : 3 milesshows a lake with an area of18 square inches. What is theactual area of the lake?

Answer 1

`\frac{1\text{ in}}{3\text{ milies}}=\frac{1^2\text{ sq in}}{3^2\text{ sq miles}}=\frac{1\text{ sq in}}{9\text{ sq miles}}`

The scale 1 inch : 3 miles means that 1 square inch is proportional to 9 square miles. Then:

`18\text{ sq in}\cdot\frac{9\text{ sq miles}}{1\text{ sq in}}=162\text{ sq miles}`

The actual area of the lake is 162 square miles