A geographic survey identifies 18 research locations within a circular region of radius 60 miles. If the area is divided into equal sectors, each spanning 20 degrees, how many such sectors are there? - MeetFactory
Title: Decoding a Circular Geographic Survey: 18 Research Sites Across a 60-Mile Radius
Title: Decoding a Circular Geographic Survey: 18 Research Sites Across a 60-Mile Radius
A recent geographic survey has mapped 18 strategically located research sites within a circular region with a radius of 60 miles, covering a total area ideal for focused scientific analysis. Understanding the spatial structure of these locations—particularly how they are subdivided into sectors—offers valuable insights into logistical planning, environmental monitoring, and geographic distribution patterns.
One key geometric consideration is how the circular region is divided: the survey area spans a full 360-degree circle, and the locations are evenly distributed in 20-degree sectors. To determine the number of such sectors, we divide the total degrees in a circle by the angular span per sector:
Understanding the Context
$$
\frac{360^\circ}{20^\circ} = 18 \ ext{ sectors}
$$
This means the 60-mile radius region is divided into 18 equal angular sectors, each spanning 20 degrees. If the research sites are positioned evenly—aligned with sector boundaries or distributed uniformly—they reflect a structured layout optimized for spatial coverage and accessibility.
Such organized division enhances research coordination, data collection efficiency, and visualization in geographic information systems (GIS). Each 20-degree sector provides a manageable unit for fieldwork teams and helps maintain balanced sampling across the entire survey area.
In summary, a uniformly organized survey of 18 research locations within a 60-mile radius circular region is naturally partitioned into 18 distinct 20-degree sectors, enabling precise spatial analysis and efficient operational planning. This geometric approach underscores how geography and math converge to support scientific discovery.
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Keywords: geographic survey, circular region survey, sector division, 20-degree sector, radius 60 miles, research sites, GIS, spatial analysis