JAMB - Mathematics (1992 - No. 24)

Determine the distance on the earth's surface between two town P (lat 60°N, Long 20°E) and Q(Lat 60°N, Long 25°W) (Radius of the earth = 6400km)
\(\frac{800\pi}{9}\)km
\(\frac{800\sqrt{3\pi}}{9}\)km
800\(\pi\) km
800\(\sqrt{3\pi}\) km

Explanation

Angular difference (\(\theta\))= 25° + 20° = 45°

\(\alpha\) = common latitude = 60°

\(S = \frac{\theta}{360°} \times 2\pi R \cos \alpha\)

\(S = \frac{45°}{360°} \times 2 \pi \times 6400 \times \cos 60°\)

= \(\frac{6400\pi}{8} = 800\pi km\)

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