Answer:
The degree of compactness of Somalia, approximated by the A/C ratio, is approximately 225.39 sq km/km, indicating its land area is relatively efficiently distributed within its borders compared to a perfect circle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The degree of compactness of a country can be calculated by using the formula for the area-to-perimeter (A/P) ratio. The A/P ratio measures how efficiently a country's land area is packed within its borders.
However, Somalia has a long and irregular coastline, which makes calculating the A/P ratio directly quite challenging. Instead, we can approximate the degree of compactness by comparing Somalia's land area to that of a circle with the same circumference as Somalia's land borders. This is known as the area-to-circumference (A/C) ratio. The closer Somalia's A/C ratio is to that of a circle, the more compact its shape.
First, we need to find Somalia's land area and its perimeter (circumference). Then we can calculate the A/C ratio.
Somalia's Land Area (A): According to my last knowledge update in September 2021, Somalia's land area is approximately 637,657 square kilometers.
Somalia's Perimeter (C): Calculating the exact perimeter of Somalia's irregular shape is complex. However, we can make a rough approximation using GIS software or maps. For this example, let's assume a very simplified circular shape with a similar circumference.
Now, we calculate the circumference (C) of a circle with the same perimeter:
Circumference (C) ≈ 2 * π * √(A / π)
Where:
A is Somalia's land area.
π (pi) is approximately 3.14159.
Plugging in the values:
Circumference (C) ≈ 2 * 3.14159 * √(637,657 / 3.14159)
Circumference (C) ≈ 2 * 3.14159 * √(202,827.13)
Circumference (C) ≈ 2 * 3.14159 * 450.3746
Circumference (C) ≈ 2,828.42 km (approximately)
Now, we can calculate the A/C ratio:
A/C Ratio = A / C
A/C Ratio = 637,657 sq km / 2,828.42 km ≈ 225.39 sq km/km
So, the degree of compactness of Somalia, approximated by the A/C ratio, is approximately 225.39 sq km/km. This means that Somalia's land area is distributed relatively efficiently within its borders compared to a perfect circle. Keep in mind that this is a simplified approximation, and Somalia's actual shape is much more irregular.