In Derive 4.11 there is a toolbar of symbols available when authoring functions. This includes a degree symbol, which I cannot
type in an email, but will denote by "deg". If you author 30"deg" this will appear as 30."deg", as "deg" is treated as the
constant pi/180. If you now simplify the expression it will become pi/6. So far, so good.
However, if you author sin30"deg", then this will be interpreted as sin(30 radians) x pi/180, which is not what you want at
all. If you author sin(30"deg"), then all will be well, and this will simplify to 1/2 as one would hope.
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Philip Yorke [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 1999 11:29 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: degrees and radians
>
>Dear Derivers,
>
>How comfortable are you all with radians being DERIVE's default, rather
>than degrees? Do you prefer it that way? Is it an obstacle to more
>ready
>acceptance of DERIVE at pre-calculus school level? One of our customers
>suggested this was so and I'd be interested to hear what you think.
>
>Cheers
>Philip Yorke
>
>Chartwell-Yorke (Mathematics Software and Books)
>114 High Street, Belmont, Bolton, Lancashire, BL7 8AL, England.
>[log in to unmask] [log in to unmask]
>Telephone: (+44) (0)1204 811001 Fax: (+44) (0)1204 811008
>
>Visit our Website at: http://www.chartwellyorke.com
>
>
Dr Hugh L Porteous
School of Science and Mathematics
Sheffield Hallam University
Howard Street
SHEFFIELD S1 1WB
Tel: +44(0)114 225 3292
Fax: +44(0)114 225 3066
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