TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM.
209
of the degree of uncertainty which still attaches to the fundamental members.
From the equations
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the total number of which is double the number of the parallels, we have to obtain, by the method of least squares, (after substituting in , &c., and in , &c. the corresponding numerical values of ,) as many of the co-efficients , , , &c. as require to be taken into account.
In like manner the equations
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the number of which is three times as great as the number of parallels, serve to determine the co-efficients , , , &c. And the following,
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determine the coefficients , , , &c. Further, the equations
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determine the co-efficients , , , &c.; and we obtain the co-efficients of the succeeding higher numbers in a similar manner.
The chief advantage which this method possesses over that