Final answer:
The shortest distance between V(35°N, 16°W) and W(35°N, 164°E) is 180 nautical miles. This is calculated by adding the absolute values of the longitudes, which results in 180°, representing half of the Earth's circumference at that latitude.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of this question is Mathematics, specifically dealing with the concept of distance on the Earth's surface, which can be thought of in terms of spherical geometry or navigational calculations. The calculation of the shortest distance between two points on the Earth can be performed using the concept of great-circle distance, as these points lie on the same latitude.
To find the shortest distance in nautical miles between V(35°N, 16°W) and W(35°N, 164°E), we must consider the fact that a full circle is 360°. Since both points are on the same latitude, we can calculate the longitudinal difference by adding the absolute values of the longitudes given that they are on opposite sides of the prime meridian (one is west and the other is east). The calculation is as follows:
- Absolute difference between the longitudes: |16°W| + |164°E| = 16° + 164° = 180°
- Since the Earth is a sphere, the maximum distance between any two points at the same latitude is half of the Earth's circumference (180°).
Therefore the shortest distance is 180 nautical miles, which corresponds to the option (a).