Which statement correctly describes how latitude and longitude locate locations on Earth?

• A. Latitude measures distance north/south from the equator; longitude measures distance east/west from the Prime Meridian.
• B. Latitude measures distance east/west from the Prime Meridian; longitude measures distance north/south from the equator.
• C. Latitude measures time zones; longitude measures elevation.
• D. Both latitude and longitude measure distance north/south.

Answer: (A)

Latitude tells you how far north or south you are from the equator, with lines that run east to west. Longitude tells you how far east or west you are from the Prime Meridian, with lines that run from pole to pole. Together, they form a grid that pins down any location on Earth. The equator is 0 degrees latitude, and the Prime Meridian is 0 degrees longitude; latitudes go up to 90 degrees (north or south), and longitudes go up to 180 degrees east or west. The reason this is the best description is that it correctly assigns north–south position to latitude and east–west position to longitude. The other options mix up these relationships or introduce unrelated ideas like time zones or elevation.