If a map uses a scale where 1 inch represents 1 mile, how many miles does 12 inches on the map represent?

• A. 12 miles
• B. 1/12 mile
• C. 6 miles
• D. 24 miles

Answer: (A)

When map measurements are tied to distance by a simple ratio, you multiply the map distance by the number of real-world units per map unit. Here, 1 inch on the map equals 1 mile in real life. So every inch you count on the map adds one mile to the real distance. For 12 inches, that’s 12 × 1 mile = 12 miles. The other options would require different scales (for example, 24 miles would need a scale of 2 miles per inch, and 6 miles would need 0.5 miles per inch).