Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) Social Science Practice Test

Which of the following is NOT used by geographers to determine absolute location?

1. Equator

2. Distance from the ocean

3. Longitude

4. Latitude

The correct answer is: Distance from the ocean

Geographers determine absolute location using coordinates represented by latitude and longitude lines, which provide precise numeric values indicating a specific point on the Earth's surface. Latitude measures north-south position from the Equator, while longitude measures east-west position from the Prime Meridian. The Equator itself is a crucial reference line in this system, as it is the primary latitude line at 0 degrees. In contrast, distance from the ocean does not provide a specific coordinate and therefore cannot pinpoint a precise absolute location. It may inform relative location by indicating proximity to a geographic feature, but it lacks the precision of latitude and longitude. This distinction makes the choice of distance from the ocean the correct answer, as it does not utilize the defined coordinate system that is central to establishing absolute location.