How many miles shorter is the great circle route between Memphis Tennessee and Tokyo Japan than the straight east west distance along a parallel?

The great circle route between Memphis, Tennessee, and Tokyo, Japan, is approximately 5,500 miles, while the straight east-west distance along a parallel is about 6,000 miles. Therefore, the great circle route is roughly 500 miles shorter than the straight east-west distance. This difference arises because the great circle takes into account the curvature of the Earth, providing a more direct path between two points.