What does the ratio of 1 inch:160 miles mean in the context of a map scale?
In the context of a map scale, the ratio 1 inch:160 miles represents the relationship between a unit of measurement on the map (1 inch) and the corresponding distance it represents in the real world (160 miles). This ratio indicates that one inch on the map is equivalent to 160 miles in actual distance.
To understand this in more detail, let's break it down step by step:
1. The first step is to identify the given ratio: 1 inch:160 miles.
2. This ratio tells us that on the map, 1 inch will represent a total distance of 160 miles in the real world.
3. So, if you measure a distance on the map and find it to be 2 inches long, you can use the ratio to determine the actual distance it represents. By multiplying the number of inches (2) by the value in the ratio (160 miles), you can calculate that the distance on the earth would be 320 miles.
In summary, this ratio provides a way to convert distances on a map (in inches) into actual distances in the real world (in miles).