Question

On a map, the scale shown is1 inch : 5 miles. If a park is75 square miles, what is thearea of the park on the map?The park's area issquarelinches on the map.

Answer 1

We have the relationship between inches and miles is:

1 inch to 5 miles.

The park has an actual area of:

$75mi^2$

Now, to make the conversion to inches, we need to consider that 1 inch represent 5 miles. Thus:

$\begin{gathered} 1in=5mi \\ 1in^2=25mi^2 \end{gathered}$

We squared this amounts, if 1 inch is 5 miles, 1 inch squared will be equal to 5 squared which is 25.

Now we divide 75 miles squared by 25, to know how many inches squared will the park represent on the map:

$\frac{75}{25}=3in^2$

Answer: the area of the park on the map will be 3 inches squared.