Longitude system — allowable range of values from the prime meridian From the prime meridian (0°), longitudes are conventionally measured within which range?

Introduction / Context:In geodesy and navigation, longitude specifies the east–west position of a point on Earth relative to the prime meridian through Greenwich. Standard conventions restrict the magnitude to avoid ambiguity and ensure interoperability across maps and databases.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Prime meridian (Greenwich) is 0° longitude.
• Earth is divided into eastern and western hemispheres.
• Standard convention uses signed longitudes or E/W suffixes.

Concept / Approach:

Longitudes are measured eastward or westward from 0° up to a maximum of 180°. The anti-meridian at 180° is shared by both east and west designations (180°E ≡ 180°W). Using 0–180° E/W avoids wrap-around issues that can occur with 0–360° notation unless a strictly positive eastward system is explicitly adopted.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Most global datasets (e.g., WGS84) use either ±180° or 0–360° east-positive; the classical cartographic form is 0–180° E/W.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• (a) and (b) omit half the globe.
• (d) and (e) employ a 0–360° system not implied here and not standard in many surveying contexts.

Common Pitfalls:

• Mishandling 180° when converting between signed and E/W notations (east positive vs. west positive conventions).

Final Answer:

0° to 180° east or west.