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Mean angles; VCR and VA from A

Short answer

Mean directions from two faces, interior angles summed to 539°57′40″, error −2′20″ distributed equally. Corrected horizontal angles: A=128°47′38″, B=102°06′48″, C=108°52′58″, D=91°00′28″, E=109°12′08″. Missing VCR: FR to E=294°49′30″, FL to B=62°34′20″; vertical angles: +24°49′30″ (E) and +27°25′40″ (B).

The following observations were recorded in a theodolite traverse ABCDEA. Compute the mean horizontal angles and adjust them if necessary. Also calculate the VCR and VA when sighted from station A to target stations E and B.

Inst. StationTarget StnHCR Face LeftHCR Face RightVCR Face LeftVCR Face Right
AE0°0′0″180°0′40″65°10′30″??
B128°47′20″308°47′40″??297°25′40″
BA0°0′0″180°0′40″
C102°6′40″282°6′40″
CB0°0′0″180°0′20″
D108°52′20″288°53′0″
DC0°0′0″180°0′0″
E91°0′0″271°0′0″
ED0°0′0″180°0′0″
A109°11′20″289°12′0″

Assumption: closed pentagon ABCDEA, so the sum of the interior angles is (5−2)×180∘=540∘(5-2) \times 180^\circ = 540^\circ.

Method. For each target the mean direction is found from the two faces:

Mean direction=Face L+(Face R±180∘)2\text{Mean direction} = \frac{\text{Face L} + (\text{Face R} \pm 180^\circ)}{2}

The angle at a station = mean direction of the forward station - mean direction of the back station. For a closed traverse of nn sides, the sum of the interior angles must be (n−2)×180∘(n-2) \times 180^\circ; the difference is the angular error, which is distributed equally among the angles (the angles are measured with the same instrument and care).

Field book and mean angles

Inst. stnSighted toFace LFace RMean directionMean angle
AE0°0′0″180°0′40″0°00′20″
B128°47′20″308°47′40″128°47′30″128°47′10″
BA0°0′0″180°0′40″0°00′20″
C102°6′40″282°6′40″102°06′40″102°06′20″
CB0°0′0″180°0′20″0°00′10″
D108°52′20″288°53′0″108°52′40″108°52′30″
DC0°0′0″180°0′0″0°00′00″
E91°0′0″271°0′0″91°00′00″91°00′00″
ED0°0′0″180°0′0″0°00′00″
A109°11′20″289°12′0″109°11′40″109°11′40″

Check and adjustment

Required sum = (5−2)×180∘(5-2) \times 180^\circ = 540°00′00″. Observed sum = 539°57′40″. Angular error = 539°57′40″ - 540°00′00″ = -0°02′20″. Correction per angle = +0°00′28″ (equal for all 5 angles).

Angle atMean angleCorrectionCorrected angle
A128°47′10″+0°00′28″128°47′38″
B102°06′20″+0°00′28″102°06′48″
C108°52′30″+0°00′28″108°52′58″
D91°00′00″+0°00′28″91°00′28″
E109°11′40″+0°00′28″109°12′08″
Sum539°57′40″+0°02′20″540°00′00″

Answer: corrected horizontal angles: A = 128°47′38″, B = 102°06′48″, C = 108°52′58″, D = 91°00′28″, E = 109°12′08″.

VCR and vertical angles from A

For a zenith-angle vertical circle, FL + FR = 360°.

TargetVCR Face leftVCR Face rightZenith distance ZVertical angle VA = 90° - Z
E65°10′30″294°49′30″65°10′30″+24°49′30″
B62°34′20″297°25′40″62°34′20″+27°25′40″

Answer: VCR (FR) to E = 294°49′30″; VCR (FL) to B = 62°34′20″; VA to E = 24°49′30″ (elevation); VA to B = 27°25′40″ (elevation).

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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