The sexagesimal system and its operations

Define two numbers $a$ and $b$ in sexagesimal system.

a) Compute the sum of both $a+b$

b) Compute the subtractions $a-b$ and $b-a$

c) Multiply $a\cdot7$

d) Divide $\dfrac{b}{6}$

$a=28^\circ \ 36' \ 54''$ and $b=75^\circ \ 43' \ 12''$

a) Step 1:

$$\begin{eqnarray} & & \ \ 28^\circ \ 36' \ 54'' \\\\ &+ & \underline{\ \ 75^\circ \ 43' \ 12''} \\\\ & & 103^\circ \ 79' \ 66'' \end{eqnarray}$$

Step 2:

$$\dfrac{66}{60}=1+\dfrac{6}{60}$$

We obtain,

$$103^\circ \ 80' \ 6''$$

Step 3:

Same procedure for the minutes,

$$\dfrac{80}{60}=1+\dfrac{20}{60}$$

And we obtain,

$$a+b=104^\circ \ 20' \ 6''$$

$$\\\\$$

b) $b-a$ is reduced first since $a$ is less than $b$,

$$\begin{eqnarray} & & 75^\circ \ 43' \ \fbox{12}'' \\\\ &- & \underline{28^\circ \ 36' \ \fbox{54}''} \end{eqnarray}$$

Step 1:

We convert a minute into $60$ seconds to obtain a positive number of seconds after having subtracted.

$$\begin{eqnarray} & & 75^\circ \ 42' \ \fbox{72}'' \\\\ &- & \underline{28^\circ \ 36' \ \fbox{54}''} \\\\ & & \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 18'' \end{eqnarray}$$

Step 2:

Minutes and hours are subtracted

$$\begin{eqnarray} & & 75^\circ \ 42' \ 72'' \\\\ &-& \underline{28^\circ \ 36' \ 54''} \\\\ & & 47^\circ \ \ 6' \ 18'' \end{eqnarray}$$

The subtraction $a-b$ will give a result of:

$$-47^\circ \ \ 6' \ 18'' $$

$$\\\\$$

c) Step 1:

$$\begin{eqnarray} & & 28^\circ \ \ \ 36' \ \ \ 54'' \\\\ & \times & \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 5 \\\\ & & \overline{140^\circ \ 180' \ 270''} \end{eqnarray}$$

Step 2:

More than $60$ seconds are obtained,

$$\dfrac{270}{60}=4+\dfrac{30}{60}$$

And the product is

$$140^\circ \ 184' \ 30''$$

Step 3:

The same procedure for the minutes

$$\dfrac{184}{60}=3+\dfrac{4}{60}$$

Finally,

$$a\times5=143^\circ \ 4' \ 30''$$

$$\\\\$$

d) Step 1:

We start by dividing the hours (or degrees):

$$\dfrac{75}{6}=12+\dfrac{3}{6}$$

$12$ will be the final hours, and $3\times60$ will be added to the minutes.

Step 2:

The same with the minutes $180' + 43' = 223'$

$$\dfrac{223}{6}=37+\dfrac{1}{6}$$

$37$ will be the final minutes and $1\times60$ will be added to the seconds.

Step 3:

The same with the seconds $60'' + 12'' =72''$

$$\dfrac{72}{6}=12''$$

And so,

$$\dfrac{b}{6}=12^\circ \ 37' \ 12''$$

$a=28^\circ \ 36' \ 54''$ and $b=75^\circ \ 43' \ 12''$

a) $a+b=104^\circ \ 20' \ 6''$

b) $b-a=47^\circ \ \ 6' \ 18''$, $a-b=-47^\circ \ \ 6' \ 18''$

c) $a\times5=143^\circ \ 4' \ 30''$

d) $\dfrac{b}{6}=12^\circ \ 37' \ 12''$

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