Latitude and Longitude — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. If two cities are 5 degrees of latitude apart, approximately how many miles separate them on Earth?
A) About 145 miles
B) About 245 miles
C) About 345 miles
D) About 445 miles
Since one degree of latitude is roughly 69 miles, 5 degrees times 69 miles equals 345 miles between the two cities.
2. A city at 40 degrees N and another at 30 degrees N are roughly how far apart north to south?
A) About 490 miles
B) About 590 miles
C) About 690 miles
D) About 790 miles
The difference of 10 degrees latitude multiplied by 69 miles per degree equals approximately 690 miles between the two cities.
3. Approximately how many miles equal one degree of latitude anywhere on Earth's surface?
A) About 49 miles
B) About 59 miles
C) About 69 miles
D) About 79 miles
One degree of latitude equals about 69 miles or 111 kilometers, a distance that stays nearly constant across Earth's surface.
4. If you travel 207 miles directly north using GPS, about how many degrees of latitude did you cross?
A) About 1 degree
B) About 2 degrees
C) About 3 degrees
D) About 4 degrees
Dividing 207 miles by 69 miles per degree gives 3 degrees of latitude crossed during the northward trip.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. One degree of latitude on Earth equals approximately 69 miles in any direction north or south.
One degree of latitude is approximately 69 miles or 111 kilometers, a distance that remains nearly constant across Earth's surface.
2. If a ship travels from 20 degrees N to 25 degrees N, it covers about 345 miles north.
A 5-degree change in latitude multiplied by 69 miles per degree equals 345 miles of northward travel.
3. Two cities 4 degrees of latitude apart are approximately 276 miles from each other.
Four degrees of latitude multiplied by 69 miles per degree equals 276 miles between the two cities.
4. A pilot flies 138 miles due south, crossing about 2 degrees of latitude during the flight.
Dividing 138 miles by 69 miles per degree gives 2 degrees of latitude crossed during the southward flight.
5. GPS systems use latitude and longitude coordinates to pinpoint exact locations on Earth.
GPS uses latitude and longitude coordinates together to identify any precise location on Earth's surface for navigation.