You wish to measure the distance on a...

Question 1 of 2707066636ee928f7522a1c51a745

You wish to measure the distance on a Mercator chart between a point in latitude 43°30'N and a point in latitude 40°30'N. To measure 30 miles at a time, where should you set the points of the dividers to obtain the most accurate measurement?

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Question 1 of 27070

🔍 Key Concepts

• Mercator chart scale and how distance is measured using latitude scale • Why distances on a Mercator chart are always taken from the nearest vertical (meridian) latitude scale to the track being measured • For greatest accuracy, why you use the mid-latitude (middle of the two positions) when choosing where to span the dividers

💭 Think About

• What is the total difference in latitude between 43°30'N and 40°30'N, and where is the midpoint of that latitude range? • On a Mercator chart, does the scale of latitude get larger, smaller, or stay the same as you move north–south, and why does that matter for where you place the dividers? • Which option places the dividers’ points closest to the middle of the two positions’ latitudes rather than near one end?

✅ Before You Answer

• Compute and mark the mid-latitude between 43°30'N and 40°30'N before looking at the answer choices • Confirm that each 1 minute of latitude equals 1 nautical mile and that distances must be taken from the latitude scale nearest the area being measured • Compare each choice to see which pair of latitudes lies most symmetrically around, or closest to, your computed mid-latitude