D5: Calculating distances
So far, you have figured out that the coordinate system we are using is centered on the U.S. Capitol. If you are East of the Capitol, then you have a positive X coordinate. If you are West of the Capitol, then you have a negative X coordinate. Likewise, if you are North of the Capitol, then you have a positive Y coordinate. So, everything in NE Washington has positive X & Y coordinates, and everything in SW Washington has negative X & Y coordinates.
The coordinate system is based on kilometers. Using this system, it is easy to measure how many kilometers east, west, north or south you are of the Capitol building. But how far are you from the Capitol building if you are one kilometer east, and one kilometer north?
Use the scale bar in the lower left-hand corner to figure this out.
How can you calculate a distance using the coordinates?