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When magnetic variation is indicated as “EAST”, it means that…

  • A

    the value of variation must be subtracted from a true heading to obtain a magnetic heading.

  • B

    the value of variation must be added to a true heading to obtain a magnetic heading.

  • C

    true north is located to the east of magnetic north.

  • D

    magnetic north is located to the west of compass north.

Magnetic variation is the angle between the true meridian and the magnetic meridian, or the difference between the true north and the magnetic north, and varies between 180° and zero.

  • If the magnetic variation is “WEST”, it means that the magnetic north pole is located to the west of the geographic (true) north pole.
  • If the magnetic variation is “EAST”, it means that the magnetic north pole is located to the east of the geographic (true) north pole.

To determine whether is the magnetic variation must be added, or subtracted, apply the rhyme:

  • “Variation WEST - magnetic BEST”, meaning that:
    • The value of variation must be added to a true heading to obtain a magnetic heading, or
    • The value of variation must be subtracted from a magnetic heading to obtain a true heading.
  • “Variation EAST - magnetic LEAST”, meaning that:
    • The value of variation must be subtracted from a true heading to obtain a magnetic heading, or
    • The value of variation must be added to a magnetic heading to obtain a true heading.

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