2. a) What are the biggest numbers you can find for a line of langitade? b) What is the name given to the line of longitude with the smallest number? c) Find the lines of longitude for \( 180^{\circ} \mathrm{W} \) and \( 180^{\circ} \mathrm{E} \). Why are they the same line?

Certainly! Let's break down each part of your question regarding lines of longitude: --- ### **a) What are the biggest numbers you can find for a line of longitude?** **Lines of longitude**, also known as **meridians**, are imaginary lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. They are measured in degrees (°) east or west of the **Prime Meridian**. - **Maximum Values:** - **180° East (180°E)** - **180° West (180°W)** These are the largest numerical values for longitude. They represent the farthest points east or west you can go from the Prime Meridian. Essentially, 180°E and 180°W mark the same line on the globe, which is directly opposite the Prime Meridian. --- ### **b) What is the name given to the line of longitude with the smallest number?** The line of longitude with the smallest numerical value is the **Prime Meridian**, designated as **0° longitude**. - **Prime Meridian (0° Longitude):** - **Location:** Passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, UK. - **Significance:** Serves as the reference point from which all other longitudes are measured. It divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. --- ### **c) Find the lines of longitude for \( 180^{\circ} \mathrm{W} \) and \( 180^{\circ} \mathrm{E} \). Why are they the same line?** - **\( 180^{\circ} \mathrm{W} \):** 180 degrees west of the Prime Meridian. - **\( 180^{\circ} \mathrm{E} \):** 180 degrees east of the Prime Meridian. **Both \( 180^{\circ} \mathrm{W} \) and \( 180^{\circ} \mathrm{E} \) refer to the same line of longitude**, known as the **International Date Line (IDL)**. **Why Are They the Same Line?** 1. **Geographical Convergence:** - Longitude lines are measured up to 180° east and west from the Prime Meridian. At 180°, the east and west measurements converge to form a single line. 2. **International Date Line (IDL):** - The IDL serves as the boundary between one calendar day and the next. While it generally follows the 180° longitude, it deviates in several places to accommodate the political and territorial boundaries of various nations and islands. 3. **Seamless Continuation:** - There’s no "left" or "right" once you reach 180°. Whether you designate it as east or west depends on the direction from which you approach it, but geographically, it remains the same meridian. --- **Visual Representation:** ``` North Pole | | 180°E/W (International Date Line) | | South Pole ``` --- **Summary:** - **Biggest Longitude Numbers:** 180°E and 180°W - **Smallest Longitude Number:** Prime Meridian (0°) - **\( 180^{\circ} \mathrm{W} \) and \( 180^{\circ} \mathrm{E} \):** Both represent the International Date Line, the same geographical line where the maximum longitudinal measurements meet. --- I hope this clarifies your questions about lines of longitude! If you have any more queries, feel free to ask.