Map scale 1 cm : 50 km, 175 km in real life

Step by step, with the reason for every step · Scale drawings and maps · Geometry

Step by step

Question: with the scale 1 cm : 50 km, how long is 175 km in real life on the map?

map → real

The scale means: 1 cm on the map is 50 km for real.

1 cm → 50 km

175 km is how many times 50 km?

175 divided by 50 is 3.5.

175 ÷ 50 = 3.5

So it is 3.5 times the scale.

The map length is 3.5 times 1 cm too.

3.5 × 1 cm → 175 km

So on the map it is 3.5 cm.

3.5 cm → 175 km

Let's check: go back.

3.5 times 50 should give the real length, 175.

3.5 × 50 = 175

We get it again.

So 3.5 cm is right!

Let's look back.

First: how many times.

Last: check.

Answer

3.5 cm → 175 km

Try this one yourself, then check:

Scale 1 cm : 45 km. 180 km in real life: on the map?

Show the answer

4 cm