How many digits are enough?

48.1?   48.12?   48.123?

How many digits of precision do we need?

1 degree of latitude (and 1 degree of longitude at the equator) equals 60 nautical miles. A nautical mile is 6,076.11549...(it goes on and on!) feet in length. Close enough to 1.15 statute miles, which makes 1 degree equal to 69 statute miles.

(nautical miles are interesting: 1 minute = 1 nautical mile, so the world is 60*360 nautical miles North South, and around the equator or 21600.

The difference between 48.898748 and 48.898749 is 4.4 inches.

Four digits, or around 36 feet, is really about all you need for normal navigation.

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