Los Angeles is about 385 miles from San Francisco. How far apart would the cities be on a map with a scale of 1 in. = 25 mi? If necessary, round to the nearest hundredth.

Question

jim_thompson5910 · Answer

1 in = 25 mi  ... this is given

1/25 in = 1 mi ... divide both sides by 25

385/25 in = 385 mi ... multiply both sides by 385

15.4 in = 385 mi ... Reduce

385 mi = 15.4 in ... flip the equation

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Or you can do it this way

(distance on map)/(distance in real life) = (distance on map)/(distance in real life)

1/25 = x/385

1*385 = 25x

25x = 385

x = 385/25

x = 15.4

anonymous · Answer

(385 miles )(1 inch/25 miles)

"miles" cancels so you are just dividing 385 by 25 and are left with inches.

You can multiply by the factor because it is like multiplying by one.