Answer
$74.3^{\circ}$
Work Step by Step
To convert $74^{\circ} 18'$ to decimal degrees, let's break it as-
$74^{\circ} 18'$ = $74^{\circ}$ + $18'$
Now on dividing $18'$ by 60, we have the number of "decimal degrees" equivalent
to $18'$ (as $ 1^{\circ} = 60'$)
Therefore
$74^{\circ} 18'$ = $74^{\circ}$ + $(\frac{18}{60})^{\circ}$
$74^{\circ} 18'$ = $74^{\circ}$ + $0.3^{\circ}$
$74^{\circ} 18'$ = $74.3^{\circ}$