Minute
Minute
A
unit of angle measure equal to 
of
a degree. There are 60 minutes in one degree. Minutes are indicated
using
the ' symbol, so 12°45' means 12 degrees and 45 minutes,
or 12.75 degrees.
See also
Key Formula
1′=601 degree⟺1°=60′
Where:
- ′ = The prime symbol, representing one arcminute
- ° = The degree symbol
Worked Example
Problem: Convert 52°36' (52 degrees and 36 minutes) to decimal degrees.
Step 1: Identify the degree and minute parts. Here the degree part is 52° and the minute part is 36′.
Step 2: Convert the minutes to a decimal fraction of a degree by dividing by 60.
6036=0.6°
Step 3: Add the decimal fraction to the whole-degree part.
52°+0.6°=52.6°
Answer: 52°36′ = 52.6°
Another Example
Problem: Convert 17.35° to degrees and minutes.
Step 1: Separate the whole-degree part from the decimal part. The whole part is 17° and the decimal part is 0.35°.
Step 2: Multiply the decimal part by 60 to convert it to minutes.
0.35×60=21′
Step 3: Combine the results.
17.35°=17°21′
Answer: 17.35° = 17°21′
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a minute of arc and a minute of time?
A minute of arc (arcminute) is an angular measurement — it is 1/60 of a degree. A minute of time is 1/60 of an hour. They share the same subdivision principle (dividing by 60), but they measure completely different things: angles versus time. Context usually makes it clear which one is meant.
How do you convert degrees, minutes, and seconds to decimal degrees?
Divide the seconds by 60 to get a decimal number of minutes. Add that to the minutes, then divide the total minutes by 60 to get a decimal number of degrees. Finally, add that to the whole degrees. For example, 40°30′18″ becomes 40 + 30/60 + 18/3600 = 40.505°.
Minute (arcminute) vs. Second (arcsecond)
An arcminute (′) is 1/60 of a degree, while an arcsecond (″) is 1/60 of an arcminute, which equals 1/3600 of a degree. Just as hours subdivide into minutes and then seconds for time, degrees subdivide into arcminutes and then arcseconds for angles. Arcseconds give finer precision when arcminutes are too coarse.
Why It Matters
Arcminutes are essential in navigation, surveying, and astronomy, where angles must be specified more precisely than whole degrees allow. GPS coordinates, for example, are often given in degrees and minutes. Telescope pointing accuracy and map grid references also rely on this subdivision system.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Dividing minutes by 100 instead of 60 when converting to decimal degrees.
Correction: There are 60 minutes in a degree, not 100. Always divide the minute value by 60. For instance, 45′ = 45/60 = 0.75°, not 0.45°.
Mistake: Confusing the prime symbol (′) for minutes with the double-prime symbol (″) for seconds.
Correction: A single prime (′) denotes arcminutes and a double prime (″) denotes arcseconds. Mixing them up changes the value by a factor of 60.
Related Terms
- Degree — The larger unit; one degree equals 60 minutes
- Second — The smaller unit; one minute equals 60 seconds
- Measure of an Angle — General concept of quantifying angles
- Radian — An alternative unit for measuring angles
- Angle — The geometric figure being measured
- Protractor — Tool used to measure angles in degrees