True or False: When finding coordinates, longitude is listed first and latitude second.

True or False: When finding coordinates, longitude is listed first and latitude second.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It depends
• D. Not sure

Answer: (B)

Latitude is listed first in standard geographic coordinates because it tells how far north or south you are from the equator, while longitude tells how far east or west you are from the Prime Meridian. For example, coordinates written as 38.9° N, 77.0° W place you about 38.9 degrees north and 77.0 degrees west. So the statement that longitude goes first is not how we usually read coordinates in maps and descriptions. (Note: some computer data formats store coordinates as lon, lat to fit x,y order, but typical human-readable notation and map labeling use lat, lon.)

Latitude is listed first in standard geographic coordinates because it tells how far north or south you are from the equator, while longitude tells how far east or west you are from the Prime Meridian. For example, coordinates written as 38.9° N, 77.0° W place you about 38.9 degrees north and 77.0 degrees west. So the statement that longitude goes first is not how we usually read coordinates in maps and descriptions. (Note: some computer data formats store coordinates as lon, lat to fit x,y order, but typical human-readable notation and map labeling use lat, lon.)