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Over the Pole

Age 16 to 18
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This problem affirms the idea that great circle distances on a sphere are the shortest distances. It prepares the way for more complicated calculations of distances between any two places on the globe.

See Flight Path.

You may also like

How Many Geometries Are There?

An account of how axioms underpin geometry and how by changing one axiom we get an entirely different geometry.

When the Angles of a Triangle Don't Add up to 180 Degrees

This article outlines the underlying axioms of spherical geometry giving a simple proof that the sum of the angles of a triangle on the surface of a unit sphere is equal to pi plus the area of the triangle.

Flight Path

Use simple trigonometry to calculate the distance along the flight path from London to Sydney.

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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