A map has a scale of 1:100,000. If a feature measures 17.4 cm on the map, what is its actual distance in km?

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2.1.4
Assumption: The scale of the map is $1:100\,000$ .

Understand the map scale.
A scale of $1:100\,000$ means that $1 \text{ cm}$ on the map represents $100\,000 \text{ cm}$ in actual distance.
Convert the actual distance from centimetres to kilometres.
$100\,000 \text{ cm} = 100\,000 \times \frac{1}{100} \text{ m} = 1\,000 \text{ m}$ $1\,000 \text{ m} = 1\,000 \times \frac{1}{1\,000} \text{ km} = 1 \text{ km}$
So, $1 \text{ cm}$ on the map represents $1 \text{ km}$ in actual distance.
Calculate the actual distance.
Map distance = $17.4 \text{ cm}$
Actual distance = $17.4 cm \times 1

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