Question

How do you convert `2.5^circ` to `D^circM'S''` form?

Answer 1

`2.5^@ = 2^@30'`

Explanation:

There are `60` minutes in a degree and `60` seconds in a minute.

So we find:

`2.5^@ = 2^@ + (0.5 * 60)' = 2^@30'`

If you want a seconds part, you could write this as `2^@30'0''`

More generally, given a decimal number of degrees, proceed as follows:

• Write down the whole part as the number of degrees and subtract it.

• Multiply by `60` to get the remainder as a number of minutes.

• Write down the whole part as the number of minutes and subtract it.

• Multiply by `60` to get the number of seconds.

Then you have a choice as to whether to specify the seconds as a decimal or round it to the nearest integer.