A map has a scale of 2 inches to 6 miles. Two towns on the map are 17.5 inches apart. What is the actual distance between the two towns?
x/17.5 = 6/2
x = 52.5 mi
To find the actual distance between the two towns, we can use the given scale of the map. The scale is 2 inches to 6 miles, which means that 2 inches on the map represents 6 miles in actual distance.
We can use this scale to set up a proportion to find the actual distance. Let's call the actual distance between the two towns "x" miles. Using the proportion:
2 inches / 6 miles = 17.5 inches / x miles
Cross-multiplying:
2 inches * x miles = 6 miles * 17.5 inches
2x = 105
Dividing both sides of the equation by 2:
x = 52.5
Therefore, the actual distance between the two towns is 52.5 miles.
To find the actual distance between the two towns, we first need to determine the scale factor, which represents the relationship between the map's scale and the real world.
The scale is given as 2 inches to 6 miles. This means that for every 2 inches on the map, it represents 6 miles in the real world.
Next, we can set up a proportion to find the scale factor:
Scale factor = Actual distance on the map / Actual distance in the real world.
Let's denote the actual distance between the two towns as "x" miles:
2 inches on the map represents 6 miles in the real world,
17.5 inches on the map represents x miles in the real world.
Setting up the proportion:
2 inches / 6 miles = 17.5 inches / x miles.
Now, we can cross-multiply and solve for x:
2x = 6 * 17.5
Multiply:
2x = 105
Divide both sides by 2:
x = 105 / 2
Simplify:
x = 52.5
Therefore, the actual distance between the two towns is 52.5 miles.