A nautical mile is equal to which of the following?

A nautical mile is specifically defined as one minute of latitude and corresponds to the Earth's curvature. It measures approximately 1.15078 statute miles. For practical purposes, it is commonly rounded to 1.15 statute miles. This relationship makes the nautical mile particularly useful in maritime and aeronautical navigation, where latitude and longitude are used for positioning.

In contrast, the other choices represent distances that do not accurately reflect the conversion between nautical miles and statute miles. The correct conversion is based on the geometric relationship to the Earth's surface, where one nautical mile facilitates more straightforward calculations when dealing with nautical maps and charts. Understanding this concept is crucial for navigation as it ensures accurate measurements and positioning on water and in the air.