**[Note # of numbers,easiest way to determine witch format is used] [1 #s ] * * Decimal Degrees (DegDec) 43.135933 -77.4442 Note : minutes and seconds as a decimal part of degrees.aka's (DD) . Used by MS Streets and Trips [2 #s ] * * Degrees & Minutes (MinDec) N 43° 08.156 , W 077° 26.652 Note : the Minutes have decimal for seconds [3 #s ] * * Degrees, Minutes, Seconds (DMS) N 43 08 09 W 77 26 39 This format represents each component of a coordiante (degrees, minutes, seconds) as a separate number [ # ] * * Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) 18T E 301213 N 477810 Your will never use this as an individual but nice to know it exist,but UTM is a completely different notation system [Does not use any form of degrees,minutes,seconds] ============================================================= How to Convert Degrees & Minutes (MinDec) to Decimal Degrees (DD) convert (MinDec) [ N 43° 08.156 , W 077° 26.652] to (DegDec) [43.135933 -77.4442] Remove the degree ,divide decimal min portion by 60,add the degree ============================================================= How to Convert Decimal Degrees (DD) to Degrees & Minutes (MinDec) Remove the whole degree ,multiply decimal degree portion time 60 [gives a minute & decimal sec answer] , add the degree Just multiply the decimal portion by 60. Example: 97.506355* = 97* (.506355 * 60 = 33.813)' Cool ====================================================================== How to Convert Decimal Degrees (DD) to Degrees-Minutes-Seconds (DMS) Remove the whole degree[numbers to the left of the decimal]. Multiply decimal portion times 60 [whole number is minutes] . Multiply decimal portion time 60 [whole number is seconds] Using either method, the latitude/longitude DD coordinate 42.36824 = 42 22 06 in DMS ================================================================== Conversion from Degrees-Minutes-Seconds (DMS) to Decimal Degrees (DD) Decimal Degrees = Degrees + (Minutes/60) + (Seconds/3600) Decimal Degrees = 46 + (10/60) + (28/3600) Decimal Degrees = 46 + (0.1666667) + (0.0077778) Decimal Degrees = 46.17444 = 46 degrees, 10 minutes, 28 seconds ==================================