In what year was it determined that Everest was the highest mountain in the world?

In what year was it determined that Everest was the highest mountain in the world?

• A. 1852
• B. 1865
• C. 1881
• D. 1799

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how heights of mountains are determined using precise measurements from large surveys. In the mid-19th century, the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India triangulated and calculated the heights of Himalayan peaks. They identified Peak XV as the tallest and published its height at about 29,002 feet in 1856. The peak was later renamed Everest in 1865 to honor the surveyor general, George Everest. So, the determination that this peak was the highest in the world happened in 1856, while the name Everest came later. The other years listed reflect naming or other events, not the measurement establishing it as the highest.

The key idea is how heights of mountains are determined using precise measurements from large surveys. In the mid-19th century, the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India triangulated and calculated the heights of Himalayan peaks. They identified Peak XV as the tallest and published its height at about 29,002 feet in 1856. The peak was later renamed Everest in 1865 to honor the surveyor general, George Everest. So, the determination that this peak was the highest in the world happened in 1856, while the name Everest came later. The other years listed reflect naming or other events, not the measurement establishing it as the highest.