Question

Moscow, the capital city of Russia, is at 37.62 degrees longitude and 55.75 degrees latitude. Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil, is at -47.87 degrees longitude and -15.8 degrees latitude.Simplify the expression in |55.75 – (-15.8)I and explain what the number means with regard to the problem.

Answer 1

Answer: The distance between two positions with longitudes A and B is given by ||A| - |B|| if the two positions are at the same side of the meridian (0 degrees longitude) and |A| + |B| if both positions are at different sides of the meridian.

Step-by-step explanation:The distance between two positions with longitudes A and B is given by ||A| - |B|| if the two positions are at the same side of the meridian (0 degrees longitude) and |A| + |B| if both positions are at different sides of the meridian.

Given that Moscow is at 37.62 degrees longitude and Brasilia is at -47.87 degrees longitude, thus the two cities are at different sides of the meridian.

Therefore, the distance (in degrees) between the longitude lines of Moscow and Brasilia is |37.62| + |-47.87| = 37.62 + 47.87 = 85.49