Sin and cos functions wrong?

[Crow]

Use radian values, not degrees. pi is a built-in variable that'll help a lot.

[Sinkler]

Originally Posted by Crow

Use radian values, not degrees. pi is a built-in variable that'll help a lot.

I know nothing about scripting, but does it have something to do with units? In calculus, we're not permitted to use degrees due to the units associated with degrees. Is this a fair assumption?

--This is coming from an unknowledgeable person in regards to scripting--

[cbk1994]

Originally Posted by Sinkler

I know nothing about scripting, but does it have something to do with units? In calculus, we're not permitted to use degrees due to the units associated with degrees. Is this a fair assumption?

You know how your calculator has a mode for radians and a mode for degrees? In programming, radians are almost always used.

I don't really know what you mean by "units associated with degrees" but that sounds like a silly reason to use radians.

[Sinkler]

Originally Posted by cbk1994

You know how your calculator has a mode for radians and a mode for degrees? In programming, radians are almost always used.

I don't really know what you mean by "units associated with degrees" but that sounds like a silly reason to use radians.

When using related rates, some problems (if you use degrees) can end up with:

"___ degrees/hour"

Which doesn't make sense (if we're talking angular calculus). That's why Radians is the preferable mode in calculus. There are no units.

[cbk1994]

Originally Posted by Sinkler

Which doesn't make sense (if we're talking angular calculus). That's why Radians is the preferable mode in calculus. There are no units.

Radians are units . You just generally don't write it because it's assumed. There's also radians per second and similar.

[Sinkler]

Originally Posted by cbk1994

Radians are units . You just generally don't write it because it's assumed. There's also radians per second and similar.

Radians have a mathematical "naturalness" that leads to a more elegant formulation of a number of important results.