Ratio question

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 6:12 pm

can anyone explain the following:
A map of belguim is drawn to a scale of 1:175000. How many centimetres on the map would show 35km?
the answer is 20 cm. Can anyone cast any light on this?

Maths Man · Post by **Maths Man** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 6:21 pm

Dear Guest,

Scale of 1:175,000 means one cm on map equals 175,000cm in real life.

So 1 cm = 175,000 cm
So 1 cm = 1,750 m
So 1 cm = 1.75 km

So 35 km = 35 / 1.75 cm = 20 cm

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 6:33 pm

Thanks for such a swift answer.

Maths Man · Post by **Maths Man** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 7:01 pm

You're welcome!

Daniel · Post by **Daniel** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:04 am

Thankyou Math man,

I was also stuck on that question.