Answer:
To find how many miles are in 1° of longitude at the equator, we can use the fact that the earth's circumference at the equator is 24,902 miles and that there are 360° of longitude in a full circle:
1° of longitude = (circumference of earth at equator) / 360°
1° of longitude = 24,902 miles / 360
1° of longitude ≈ 69.17 miles
Therefore, there are approximately 69.17 miles in 1° of longitude at the equator.
This number is not constant for longitude because the lines of longitude converge at the poles. As we move away from the equator and towards the poles, the distance between lines of longitude decreases. At the poles, the lines of longitude meet and there is no distance between them. This means that the distance represented by 1° of longitude becomes smaller as we move towards the poles.
In contrast, the distance represented by 1° of latitude is constant at all latitudes. This is because the lines of latitude are parallel to each other and are equally spaced around the globe. Therefore, the distance between lines of latitude is constant, and the distance represented by 1° of latitude is constant.