NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
From: Frank Reed
Date: 2013 Dec 29, 18:12 -0800
"use 3600 instead of 3438, it's easier to do The math in your head."
Well, sure. :)
You memorize 3438, then if you're working in your head and don't have a calculator nearby, replace it by whatever is convenient. In one circumstance 3600 might be convenient, in another 3400 might be convenient. Heck, even 3000 is fine for a quick estimate. But memorize a value that's as close as possible within the constraints of the usual problem of memorizing anything. Back in the 18th century, Nevil Maskelyne usually quoted 3437.75.
All you need is ONE "magic number": 3438.
-FER
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