What is the closest map scale to 1 inch = 1 mile?

To determine which map scale is closest to 1 inch representing 1 mile, it is essential to understand how map scales work. A scale of 1 inch = 1 mile means that 1 inch on the map corresponds to 1 mile in the real world.

Knowing that there are 63,360 inches in a mile allows us to calculate the corresponding ratio. If 1 inch equals 1 mile, then the scale can be expressed as 1 inch = 63,360 inches. This can be simplified to a scale of 1:63,360.

The option that comes closest to this calculation is 1:62,000. This means that for every 62,000 units (in this case, inches) on the ground, there is 1 unit (1 inch) on the map, making it the most accurate representation for distances equivalent to 1 inch mapping to 1 mile.

Other options, such as 1:24,000, 1:50,000, and 1:100,000 represent different ratios that do not closely align with the 1 mile per inch scale, leading to significant discrepancies in distance representation on those maps. For example, 1:24,000