Question

Calculate the distance between these two latitudes:

A: 18 degrees 25' N
B: 23 degrees 15' N
Hint: 1 degree= 60'= 111km

Answer 1

To determine the distance between two points on earth given in degrees and minutes of latitude, you convert the minutes to degrees, find the difference in degrees, and multiply by the distance per degree. In this case, the distance between 18 degrees 25' N and 23 degrees 15' N is approximately 649.17 kilometers.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the distance between two latitudes, we simply need to find the difference between the two latitudinal degrees and then convert that into kilometers, based on the fact that 1 degree of latitude is approximately equal to 111 kilometers.

For latitudes 18 degrees 25' N and 23 degrees 15' N:

1. Convert minutes to degrees (where 60' = 1°). The difference in minutes (15' - 25') is -10'. Since this is negative, we subtract this fraction from the degree difference. -10' equals -10/60 degrees or -1/6 degrees.
2. Find the difference in degrees. 23° - 18° = 5°.
3. Subtract the fraction obtained from the minutes from the degree difference. 5° - 1/6° = 5 5/6°.
4. Convert degrees to distance. 5 5/6° times 111 km per degree equals approximately 649.17 km.

Therefore, the distance between the two latitudes is approximately 649.17 kilometers.