What is latitude, and how does it relate to locating a place on a map?

• A. Latitude measures distance east or west of the Prime Meridian; Longitude measures distance north or south of the equator.
• B. Longitude measures distance north or south of the equator; Latitude measures distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
• C. Latitude measures distance north or south of the equator; Longitude measures distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
• D. Latitude measures distance from the equator; Longitude measures height above sea level.

Answer: (C)

Latitude tells you how far north or south a place is from the equator, and lines of latitude run east to west across the globe. Longitude tells you how far east or west a place is from the Prime Meridian, and lines of longitude run north to south. To locate a place on a map, you use both coordinates: latitude sets the north–south position, and longitude sets the east–west position. For example, a city might be about 48.9°N, 2.3°E, meaning it’s north of the equator and east of the Prime Meridian.