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Re: Why do we still use this terrible Babylonian hexadecimal system
From: George Huxtable
Date: 2004 Nov 19, 01:25 +0000
From: George Huxtable
Date: 2004 Nov 19, 01:25 +0000
Chuck Taylor suggested, as a routine for converting sexagesimal angle to decimal degrees- >A simpler way is to use separate columns for dd, mm, >and ss, and then add a 4th column for Degrees. For >example: > > A B C D >1 DD MM SS Degrees >2 25 12 30 =A2+B2/60+C2/3600 >3 25 12 30 25.20833 >4 43 18.2 43.30333 > >To use it, simply enter the formula in D2, then >replicate it downwards. Line 3 shows the result for >one example. > >The same spreadsheet will work for DD MM.T, as shown >in line 4. ========================== But will that work properly for negative angles? It seems to me that in that case, the spreadsheet will give the right answer ONLY if, after entering a negative value for degrees, you are then careful to enter negative values for minutes and seconds also. If I'm right, then it's asking for trouble. George. ================================================================ contact George Huxtable by email at george@huxtable.u-net.com, by phone at 01865 820222 (from outside UK, +44 1865 820222), or by mail at 1 Sandy Lane, Southmoor, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5HX, UK. ================================================================
