On a city map with a scale of 1 inch = 1 mile, how do you convert a measured map distance to miles?

• A. Multiply the measured map distance by 1 mile per inch to obtain miles.
• B. Divide the measured map distance by 1 mile per inch.
• C. Convert inches directly to feet without scaling.
• D. Subtract 1 mile for each inch.

Answer: (A)

The map scale 1 inch = 1 mile means that every inch measured on the map represents one mile in real distance. To convert a measured map distance to miles, multiply the distance in inches by the conversion factor (miles per inch). So if you measure D inches on the map, the real distance is D miles. For example, 4.2 inches on the map corresponds to 4.2 miles in reality.

Dividing by the scale factor would give an incorrect unit and value, converting inches to something other than miles. Converting inches directly to feet ignores the map’s miles scale, and subtracting miles for each inch has no basis in the scale. The multiply-by-factor method aligns with how the scale defines the relationship between map distance and real distance.