Question

The northern latitude line on a map is 40 degrees 45' 30"; the southern latitude line is 40 degrees 37' 00". What distance in latitude is covered?

Answer 1

Norther latitudes can be considered positive, and southern latitudes, negative. (Unless you're from Australia!!)

So the latitude distance is the the northern - the southern latitudes, namely
40°45'30" - (- 37°)
= 77°45'30"

The physical distance
77°45'30" * 6378.1 * π/180
= 8656 km. (approx.)
where 6378.1 is the approximate radius of the earth.

Answer 2

Another way to interpret this problem is

40 45' 30" - 40 37' 00" = 8 minutes, 30 seconds

Answer 3

Thank you Ms. Sue. I did not see the degrees because it went off the window.
I apologize for the oversight.