Question

T is 375 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles. On a map of California, the scale shows that 2 centimeters equals 10 actual miles. How far apart on the map are the two cities?

Answer 1

75 cm

Explanation:

the ratio of centimeter to miles is 2:10 or 1:5 (1 cm = 5 mi)

this ratio can be changed to a fraction (1/5)

so now we can set up this equation:

(1/5) = (x/375)

where x = cm on the map

if it makes it easier to understand:

(1cm/5mi) = (xcm/375mi)

now we solve for x:

375(1/5) = x

x = 375/5

x = 75 cm