Writing variation

[pignutpilot]

What is the proper way of writing variation? As a decimal or a fraction.

For example is it 3.5 degrees West or 3 1/2 degrees West.

If it is as fraction, would you write 3.72 as 3 18/25 degrees West

[bobofinga]

I've always , and only ever seen it written as a Decimal... Like 3.7? W

[EH75]

Aye decimal would be my preference. To one significant figure.

[Steve]

It is charted as a decimal, but for calculations I have habitually converted it into a fraction, rounded to the nearest ?, as I'd only report a compass error to the nearest ??. After all, you can't read a compass bearing to greater accuracy than that.

I probably shouldn't round it until reporting the final error. Oh well!

Aye decimal would be my preference. To one significant figure.

You surely mean one decimal place?

[Martyboy]

It's surely charted in Degree's and Minutes?? Anyway I'd make it a decimal too, saves ont he messyness, and I've sailed on a ship (which I hated!) which instead of using E/W it used +/-, I think it's the Danish log books. I also agree with rounding it up to the nearest half a degree, the seafarer is a simple beast, we only work in half degrees :P

[Steve]

It's surely charted in Degree's and Minutes??

So it is! I must have been thinking of the variation reported by the GPS receiver, which I've just discovered is from an internal model and not part of the almanac data as I had always thought.

[Martyboy]

So it is! I must have been thinking of the variation reported by the GPS receiver, which I've just discovered is from an internal model and not part of the almanac data as I had always thought.

Truth be told I done a google image search of a compass rose before I posted..... if only the MCA examiner could see me now :P

[EH75]

You surely mean one decimal place?

Yeah

[CharlieDelta]

The Warsash way is a fraction to the nearest half degree for courses/bearings/deviation/variation, 1 d.p. on distances (i.e. to the nearest cable). The SQA seemed to be happy with it and it's realistic too.

[bobofinga]

Yeah for distances I would put 27.4' NM. But for Degrees I would always use a decimal also... Like 314.6?(t) ? how would you write that?

[CharlieDelta]

Would be 314 1/2?T. But only when presented as a final answer. If you were using it for calculations (i.e. course in sailings calculations) you would continue to use the unrounded number.

[Silvertop]

Agreeing with above posts, one decimal place for a calculation in college etc. half a degree as 1/2 when doing them in reality on board. You can't really be more accurate. Or need to be!!