GPS Down! — Mission Briefing

GPS is down. Customers still need the fastest, most cost-effective road trips.

Your role: take client requests, build a contiguous interstate route, then measure with the movable scale and estimate time & cost on your own.

Step 1 — Client Request

Client: “I need to get from — to —. Find me the route.”

  • Cities are assigned; you don’t choose them.
  • Next: select interstates + directions to form a continuous chain.

Step 2 — Choose Interstates & Directions

Add segments in order. Segments must touch (junction within ~20–28 miles) and the chain must reach both cities.

  • Selected highways are highlighted after you set a valid route.
  • Directions must be plausible: E/W on east–west corridors, N/S on north–south corridors.

Step 3 — Measure & Estimate

Use the movable, rotatable scale (drag anywhere to move; drag the right knob to rotate). You can also use rotate buttons, the mouse wheel, or Q/E keys.

  • Pick a scale length (100–1000 miles) and tile it end-to-end along your route.
  • Use the hints to calculate time & cost yourself.

Step 4 — Report Card

Route, Distance, Time, Cost grades + Overall, with a side-by-side comparison.

GPS Down! — Client → Route (Contiguous) → Measure (Scale) → Report Card

Guided mode — one step at a time.
Interstates Straight-line
Avg speed: 60 mph $3.50 / gallon 25 mpg 400-mile range
Assigned Cities (from client)
—
—
Cities are set by the client this round.
Step 2 — Build a Contiguous Interstate Route
Add segments, then click Set Route. If wrong, use Start Over.
Step 3 — Measure & Enter Estimates
Use the Scale Tool (drag anywhere to move; drag right knob to rotate). Then enter your estimates.
Scale Tool
Angle: 0°
Tile the ruler along your chosen interstates and count segments. Tip: Q/E keys rotate by 5°. Hover the ruler and use the mouse wheel for 1° fine-tuning.
Hints (you do the math)
  • Time (hours) = Distance (miles) ÷ 60
  • Gallons = Distance (miles) ÷ 25
  • Cost ($) = Gallons × 3.50
  • Fuel stops (400-mile tank) ≈ ⌈Distance ÷ 400⌉ − 1
Write your results in the boxes below (no automatic calculations).
Use the scale to estimate.
Use the hints above to compute.
Step 4 — Report Card
Route accuracy
—
Distance estimate
—
Time estimate
—
Cost estimate
—
Overall
—
Compare: Student vs Actual
MetricStudentActual
Distance (mi)——
Time (h)——
Cost ($)——
Fuel stops (400-mi tank)——