Why are three LOPs better than two?

• A. They provide more redundancy for identification
• B. Three LOPs allow longer lines to be plotted
• C. With three LOPs, any error will be immediately apparent.
• D. Three LOPs reduce the need for bearing information

Answer: (C)

Three LOPs give you a built‑in cross-check. Each line of position should pass through the true location, so with three lines you expect all three to intersect at one point. If one line is off due to a measurement or bearing error, the three lines won’t meet at a single spot, and you can see the inconsistency right away. That immediate discrepancy signals that something needs rechecking, making the fix more reliable. With only two LOPs, a single erroneous measurement can still produce an intersection that seems plausible, but you don’t have a third line to reveal the mistake. The other options miss the main benefit: the important advantage of three LOPs is this self‑checking capability, not longer lines or reduced need for bearing information.