Question

The scale of a map is given as 1:30000000. The two cities are 4 cm apart on the map. Find the actual distance between them.

Answer 1

Let the map distance be x cm and actual distance be y cm, then

1: 30000000 = x: y

or `1/(3 xx 10^7) = x/y`

Since x = 4
so, `1/(3 xx 10^7) = 4/y`

y = 4 × 3 × 10⁷

y = 12 × 10⁷ cm

y = 1200 km.

Thus, two cities, which are 4 cm apart on the map, are actually 1200 km away from each other.