Distance Between Cities Calculator Miles

Distance Calculation:

\[ Distance = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2} \]

(Haversine formula for geographical coordinates)

City 1 Latitude:

City 1 Longitude:

City 2 Latitude:

City 2 Longitude:

Distance Between Cities:

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1. What is the Distance Calculator?

This calculator determines the straight-line distance (as the crow flies) between two geographic points in miles using their latitude and longitude coordinates.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Haversine formula:

\[ Distance = 2r \times \arcsin\left(\sqrt{\sin^2\left(\frac{\Delta\phi}{2}\right) + \cos\phi_1 \times \cos\phi_2 \times \sin^2\left(\frac{\Delta\lambda}{2}\right)}\right) \]

Where:

\( r \) — Earth's radius (3958.8 miles)
\( \phi \) — Latitude in radians
\( \lambda \) — Longitude in radians
\( \Delta\phi = \phi_2 - \phi_1 \)
\( \Delta\lambda = \lambda_2 - \lambda_1 \)

Explanation: The formula calculates the great-circle distance between two points on a sphere from their longitudes and latitudes.

3. Importance of Distance Calculation

Details: Accurate distance measurement is crucial for travel planning, logistics, navigation, and geographic analysis.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter latitude and longitude coordinates in decimal degrees (e.g., 34.052235, -118.243683). Positive values are North/East, negative values are South/West.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The Haversine formula provides good accuracy for most purposes, typically within 0.5% of the actual distance.

Q2: Does this calculate driving distance?
A: No, this calculates straight-line distance. Driving distance would be longer due to roads and terrain.

Q3: Where can I find coordinates for cities?
A: Most online maps show coordinates when you right-click a location. Many city databases also provide coordinates.

Q4: What's the maximum distance this can calculate?
A: The formula works for any distance on Earth, though extremely long distances might have slightly reduced accuracy.

Q5: Can I calculate distances in kilometers?
A: This calculator provides miles only. For kilometers, multiply miles by 1.60934.