CSS scale height to match width - possibly with a formfactor

Question

I have implemented a GoogleMapsV3 map in a twitterBootstrap basic responsive design site.

But my question is quite simple: i have:

Answer 1

Let me describe the JS solution as a separate answer:

function handleResize()
{
  var mapElement = document.getElementById("map");
  mapElement.style.height = (mapElement.offsetWidth * 1.72) + "px";
}

...

(or register the event listener dynamically).

mapElement.style.width * 1.72 will not work, since it requires that the width be set explicitly on the element, either using the width DOM attribute or in the inline style's width CSS property.