Question

The diameter of Earth, about 8,000 miles, is about 4 times the diameter of the moon. What is the approximate diameter of the moon?

Answer 1

The diameter of the moon is approximately 2,000 miles.

Explanation:

First, because we are solving for the approximate diameter of the moon, let's call the variable representing the diameter of the moon `m`.

And let's call the diameter of the Earth `e`.

The problem provides the relationship of the diameter of the Earth compared to the diameter of the moon. If equation for it can be written as:

`e = 4 xx m`

Because the diameter of the Earth (`e = 8000`) is provided we can substitute this into the formula and then solve for the approximate diameter for the moon which we called `m` while keeping the equation balanced.

`8000 = 4 xx m`

`8000/4 = (4 xx m)/4`

`2000 = (4/4) xx m`

`2000 = 1 xx m`

`m = 2000`