SOLUTION: if the latitude of chicago is 42degrees and the radius of the earth is 4000 miles. how far is chicago from the equator? please help me im not sure how to go about this. thanks

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Travel -> SOLUTION: if the latitude of chicago is 42degrees and the radius of the earth is 4000 miles. how far is chicago from the equator? please help me im not sure how to go about this. thanks      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 289048: if the latitude of chicago is 42degrees and the radius of the earth is 4000 miles. how far is chicago from the equator? please help me im not sure how to go about this. thanks
Answer by dabanfield(803) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
if the latitude of chicago is 42degrees and the radius of the earth is 4000 miles. how far is chicago from the equator? please help me im not sure how to go about this. thanks
The angle between the equator and Chicago is 42 degrees. The arc on the circumference of the earth then is also 42 degrees. Since the circle of the earth is 360 degrees, the arc length is 42/360 of the circumference. The circumference is 2*pi*r where r is the radius.
The length of the arc from the equator to Chicago then is:
(2*pi*4000)*(42/360)