I put the coordinates for your sample problems into my topo map program, and they are out in the middle of the ocean! What am I doing wrong?

The maps and coordinates in the tutorials are fictional and are not intended to represent real locations. This should have no impact on their usefulness as an educational tool. A grid tool or ruler placed on the map will produce the expected answers. On the other hand, putting the coordinates into a computer based mapping system is not likely to yield useful information.