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From: rsholmes@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Rich Holmes)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: 48sx units conversion error?
Keywords: 48sx units
Message-ID: <1991Apr25.153132.2184@rodan.acs.syr.edu>
Date: 25 Apr 91 15:31:32 GMT
References: <1991Apr24.034152.29237@netcom.COM>
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Lines: 25

In article <1991Apr24.034152.29237@netcom.COM> feustel@netcom.COM (David Feustel) writes:
>Entering .36 and selecting units gold degrees results in a conversion
>to 119 degrees. Entering .36_R and selecting units gold degrees
>results in 20 degrees. The calculator is in RAD mode thruout. Is this
>an error? If not, why don't I get the same conversion in both cases?

Hmm.  Interesting.  I don't see this in the manual.  When converting units,
a number without units is considered to be fractions of a full circle.
Example: with either radians or degrees mode set, do 1 gold degrees; you
get 360_deg.  However, for trig functions, a number without units is taken to
be radians or degrees, depending on what mode is set.  This may be a feature,
not a bug, but it is a tad confusing.

It also means if you are in degrees mode and take the ASIN of a 0.5, getting
30 (degrees), and then you say, oh bugger, I wanted that in radians, and you
press gold R, you get 188.495559215_r.  Seems like the natural thing to do, but
it gives you the wrong answer.  Instead, you must multiply the 30 by 1_deg
before converting.


-- 
 - Rich Holmes                  rich@suhep.bitnet or rich@suhep.phy.syr.edu
   Syracuse U. Physics Dept.     or if you must: rsholmes@rodan.acs.syr.edu

   The Kuwaitis have oil.  The Kurds don't.  End of story.