2006-06-14 05:41:29 · 7 answers · asked by Clifton R 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
There is no such equation.
The post office keeps a database with the latitude and longitude of each post office -- each zip code. You can look up the latitudes and longitudes of the zip codes and use them to compute the distance. For a spherical earth:
Let Lat1 and Lon1 be the latitude and longitude of the first post office. Let Lat2 and Lon2 be the latitude and longitude of the second post office. Then compute the angles:
dLon = | Lon1 - Lon2 | (make sure to account for any difference in the east- or west- of Greenwich longitudes)
D = 2 arcsin[ sqroot{ sin^2((Lat2 - Lat1)/ 2)+ cos(Lat1) cos(Lat2) sin^2(dLon/2) } ]
If you computed D in radians, convert D from an angle to a distance (in miles) using the equation:
Miles = D * 12450 / pi
If you computed D in degrees, use the equation:
Miles = D * 69.167
2006-06-14 06:04:38 · answer #1 · answered by Keith P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Distance between the geometric centers of the the zip codes or between the nearest borders of the zip codes?
In either case you would have to have parametric functions f(t) and g(t) to describe the border of each zip code, then:
In the first case, integrate the functions for the two zip code border functions over the parameter t to find the geometric centers. Then use the distance function to find the distance between the two centers.
In the second case you will have to calculate a least squares solution between the two functions. Of course, if the zip codes share any part of a border this solution is trivially zero (0).
There is no simple "equation" to solve this problem.
2006-06-14 05:58:24 · answer #2 · answered by BalRog 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go to map quest and map the distance between the two zip codes.
2006-06-14 08:08:48 · answer #3 · answered by opyankees_06 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no equation. You just need to find out where they are and find the distance between the cities.
2006-06-14 05:57:42 · answer #4 · answered by fredorgeorgeweasley 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There isn't one.
The first two digits depend on which state you are in.
Within an area, zip codes are issued alphabetically.
12345 may be next to 12346 or miles away.
2006-06-14 05:48:31 · answer #5 · answered by rt11guru 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
how about go to www.mapquest.com
Might be little easier than using Lats and Lons.
2006-06-14 06:15:12 · answer #6 · answered by Tismar Khan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
miles
2006-06-14 05:58:08 · answer #7 · answered by jredfearn08 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋