import math
from typing import Union

Number = Union[int, float]

def great_circle_distance_miles(lat1: Number, lon1: Number, lat2: Number, lon2: Number,
                                radius_miles: float = 3958.8) -> float:
    """
    Compute the great-circle distance between two points on the Earth using the haversine formula.

    Parameters:
    - lat1, lon1: Latitude and longitude of the first point in degrees.
    - lat2, lon2: Latitude and longitude of the second point in degrees.
    - radius_miles: Radius of the Earth in miles (default 3958.8 miles).

    Returns:
    - Distance between the two points in miles (float).

    Notes:
    - Latitude values should be in [-90, 90], longitude values in [-180, 180].
    """
    # convert degrees to radians
    phi1 = math.radians(lat1)
    phi2 = math.radians(lat2)
    dphi = math.radians(lat2 - lat1)
    dlambda = math.radians(lon2 - lon1)

    # haversine formula
    a = math.sin(dphi / 2.0) ** 2 + math.cos(phi1) * math.cos(phi2) * math.sin(dlambda / 2.0) ** 2
    c = 2 * math.atan2(math.sqrt(a), math.sqrt(1 - a))

    return radius_miles * c

# Example:
# Distance from New York City (40.7128° N, -74.0060° W)
# to Los Angeles (34.0522° N, -118.2437° W)
if __name__ == "__main__":
    ny_lat, ny_lon = 40.7128, -74.0060
    la_lat, la_lon = 34.0522, -118.2437
    print(f"NYC -> LA: {great_circle_distance_miles(ny_lat, ny_lon, la_lat, la_lon):.1f} miles")