On a certain map, 1.25 inches represents 20 miles. Longwood and Milltown are 5 inches apart on the map. What is the actual distance between Longwood and Milltown?

Question

Answer Choices Are

20 miles

25 miles

80 miles

And 100 miles

Answer 1

This is actually easier than some may think. Remember that 20 miles has been scaled down to 1.25 inches, and that the distance between the two towns is 5 inches on a map.

So what is that in miles?

Here are two ways I can think of to solve it:

Method 1: Direct ratio translation

Treat the scale ratio like a fraction: (# of miles)/(#of inches) = (20 miles)/(1.25 inches)

Now multiply that by 5 inches to get the result you want:

(20/1.25)*5 = 100/1.25 or alternatively 20*4 = 80 miles

Method 2: How many miles in 1 inch on the scale-down?

Divide 20 directly by 1.25 to get 16 miles per inch

Multiply 16 (miles/inch) by 5 inches get 80 miles