8) On a map, the distance between two bus stations is 4.5 centimeters The map uses a scale in which I centimeter \( =5 \) kilometers. What is the actual distance between both bus stations?

To find the actual distance between the bus stations, you simply multiply the distance on the map by the scale factor. Here, the distance is \( 4.5 \) centimeters, and the scale tells us that \( 1 \) centimeter equals \( 5 \) kilometers. So, \( 4.5 \) cm multiplied by \( 5 \) km/cm gives you an actual distance of \( 22.5 \) kilometers between the two bus stations! You can easily visualize this concept by thinking of driving between two points. If you're on a road trip and your map tells you that a certain distance is just a short stretch, but you know the scale reveals it's actually much longer, you might want to plan for rest stops or refueling along the way. Always keep the scale in mind—it could make a big difference in your travel time!