IBM Ponder This #025 · May 2000

This month we have a multi-part puzzle, suggested by Brad Long.
Throughout, we will assume the earth is a sphere with a
circumference of 25,000 miles.

Part 1:

Start at the equator where it crosses the prime meridian.
Head northwest, and continue to travel northwest
until you reach the north pole. How far will you travel?

Part 2:

Where will you be when you first cross the prime meridian?
(How far from the north pole?)

Part 3:

Where would you first cross the prime meridian if you always headed north-northwest (NNW, i.e. 22.5 degrees away from north) instead of northwest?

Part 4:

We originally asked you to discuss the cinematographic implications. This was an attempt at humor, based on the Alfred Hitchcock film titled "North by Northwest". Since then we've found out that (a) the Hitchcock film has different, unrelated titles in different languages, so that the joke falls flat; and (b) the direction "North by Northwest" is not where we thought it was. So we're skipping Part 4.

Solution

Best opened after a real attempt

To be added.