A map of Alberta has a scale of 1:1 500 000. On the map, the distance between Calgary and Banff is 2 5/8 inches. What is the distance between these two cities to the nearest mile?

the scale means

1 inch ---> 1,500,000 inches
2.625 inches = 2.625(1500000) inches
= 3937500 inches
= 328125 ft
= 62.14 miles or appr 62 miles

Tell your teacher that schools in Canada have been using the metric system since the 70's and to get rid of those old textbooks.

To find the distance between Calgary and Banff to the nearest mile, we need to convert the distance on the map, given in inches, to actual miles.

First, we need to determine the actual distance represented by 1 inch on the map. We can do this by dividing the actual distance between Calgary and Banff by the distance on the map.

Given:
Map scale: 1:1,500,000
Distance on the map (Calgary to Banff): 2 5/8 inches

To calculate the actual distance represented by 1 inch on the map:
Actual distance per inch = Actual distance between Calgary and Banff / Distance on the map

Using the scale of the map:
1 inch on the map represents 1,500,000 inches in real life.

Actual distance per inch = (2 5/8) inches x 1,500,000 inches/1 inch

To simplify:
(2 5/8) inches = (21/8) inches

Actual distance per inch = (21/8) inches x 1,500,000 inches/1 inch

Now, let's calculate the actual distance between Calgary and Banff:

Actual distance between Calgary and Banff = Actual distance per inch x Distance on the map

Actual distance between Calgary and Banff = (21/8) inches x 1,500,000 inches

To find the distance to the nearest mile, we need to convert the actual distance from inches to miles. There are 12 inches in a foot, and 5,280 feet in a mile.

Let's convert inches to miles:

Actual distance in miles = (Actual distance between Calgary and Banff in inches) / (12 inches/1 foot) / (5280 feet/1 mile)

Simplifying this calculation:
Actual distance in miles = (21/8) inches x 1,500,000 inches / (12 inches/1 foot) / (5280 feet/1 mile)

Calculating this expression:

Actual distance in miles = (21/8) inches x 1,500,000 inches / (12 inches/1 foot) / (5280 feet/1 mile)
= (21/8) x 1,500,000 / 12 / 5280 miles

Now, we can simplify this expression further:

Actual distance in miles = (21/8) x 1,500,000 / 12 / 5280 miles
= 1,312,500 / 12 / 5280 miles

Calculating this value:

Actual distance in miles = 1,312,500 / 12 / 5280
≈ 20.91 miles

Therefore, the distance between Calgary and Banff, to the nearest mile, is approximately 20.91 miles.