Solution: Traverse Area

Problem (1)

What is the area of the traverse below? If the traverse precision was 1/11,300, what is the area's expected error?

This solution starts at point 105 and travels counter-clockwise around the traverse.

Point	North	East
105	1541.207	2215.890	3,044,444
104	1373.915	2336.574	3,037,121	3,601,144
103	1299.818	2350.205	3,156,770.	3,228,982
102	1343.189	2523.212	3,959,828	3,279,716
101	1569.360	2359.080	3,635,831	3,168,690.
105	1541.207	2215.890		3,477,529
		sums:	16,833,994	16,756,061

Based on significant figures, the cross products are good to the nearest one's place which makes the sums good to the same level.

Because we generally carry an additional place to minimize rounding, area should be good to nearest 10 square feet. That is consistent with the expected error.

Answer: Area = 38,970 ft² ± 5 ft²