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Frank Reed wrote:
> 2) I can't see where you got a factor of 1/2 out of
> Maskelyne's instructions. There *is* a factor of 1/2 but it's folded
> into the "8.73" factor. That factor (besides the 1/2) arises from
> working in minutes and seconds of arc instead of pure angles (a.k.a.
> radians). You'll find that 8.73 is pi/360 (with a factor of 1000)
> which is why Maskelyne says to "abate 13" from the index instead of
> the more common 10 or 20.
I got the factor of 1/2 from the "abate 13", 10 for the log cotangent and 3
for a factor of 2. Anyway, it's all clear to me now. Thanks for the
explanation.
Ken Muldrew.
