Case Study: Modeling with Elementary Functions: Quiz

Problem 4

You compute the angle between yourself and two distant points using a surveyor's transit capable of measuring increments of 10 seconds of arc (1 second equals one sixtieth of a minute; one minute equals one sixtieth of a degree). In four separate measurements, you get the results

42^o 22' 10''
43^o 05' 00''
42^o 21' 20''
41^o 58' 40''

Use the SSE criterion and the least squares applet to determine the best estimate to 2 decimal places for the actual angle between the points. Convert the angles to decimal values to enter them into the applet, and find the best fitting line by entering the data points with x-coordinates equal to zero and y-coordinates equal to the measured angles.

Answers, problem 4

42.45

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