Question

GEOGRAPHY On a map of Florida, the distance between Jacksonville and Tallahassee is 7.5 centimeters. If 2 centimeters = 40 miles, what is the distance between the two cities?

Short answer

The distance between Jacksonville and Tallahassee is $x=150\text{\hspace{0.17em}miles}$.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Write down the given statement.

The given scale is:

2 centimetres = 40 miles.

Step 2. By method of proportion.

Let the actual distance be x. Therefore, the proportion can be written as:

The ratios can be simplified further by doing cross product:

$$\begin{gathered} \frac{2}{40}=\frac{7.5}{x} \\ 2\left(x\right)=7.5\left(40\right) \\ 2x=300 \\ \frac{2x}{2}=\frac{300}{2} \\ x=150\text{\hspace{0.17em}miles} \end{gathered}$$

Step 3. The conclusion from the length of the actual space shuttle.

The distance between Jacksonville and Tallahassee is $x=150\text{\hspace{0.17em}miles}$.