Question

One inch on a map equals 150 miles. What do 3 1/2 inches represent?

Answer 1

If 1 inch = 150 miles, we can use fractions (ratios) to determine what 3 1/2 inches would be

Since 1 is correlated to 150, they would be on the same fraction

1/150 (it really doesn’t matter which one is on top and which one is on the bottom)

And since 1 and 3 1/2 are both inches, they both go on the same side of the fraction. X would be a placeholder value for the miles

1/150 = 3.5/x

Multiply x

x • 1/150 = 3.5

Divide by 1/150 or multiply by 150 (they are the same in this case)

x = 525 miles

Or, more simply in this case, just multiply 3.5 inches by 150 miles

3.5 • 150 = 525 miles