Answer: The sun's rays hit the equator more directly.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Earth rotates around the sun on a tilt which is why we have different seasons because during some parts of the year, the sun hits some areas more than it hits others.
This is different for the Equator. Because it is in the center, it is always hit by the sun directly regardless of the tilt. This is why the equator is hotter than the rest of the latitudes. Every year, it is hit more directly than anyone other latitude.