2014-08-08 09:00:59

On a map, one centimeter corresponds to 15 miles. If the distance between Watertown and Drysdale is 70 miles, how many centimeters apart will the towns be on the map?

The correct answer is 4.66, 4.67, or 14/3.

Explanation: Set up a proportion between map distance and real distance:

1 cm                    =              x cm
15 miles                              70 miles

Cross multiply to get 70 cm-miles = 15x cm-miles (you can disregard the units from here):

70 = 15x

Divide both sides by 15 to get x = 4 2/3, which can be written as 4.66, 4.67, or 14/3. (Remember, mixed numbers cannot be gridded on your answer sheet, so they are incorrect.)