Re: precision on all calcs

To: CALC-TI@LISTS.PPP.TI.COM
Subject: Re: precision on all calcs
From: Geoff H <galois@cyberg8t.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 1997 15:23:29 -0700
Comments: To: Neil Padgett <padgett@MCMASTER.CA>
Organization: College of the Desert
References: <01bc7e7f$d380a0e0$0f05eec3@big> <33AC7617.557C4947@capitol-college.edu> <33adba9e.893574@informer1.cis.mcmaster.ca>
Reply-To: nospam@cyberg8t.com

Neil,

3 = 2, for small values of 3 - but seriously, if x is small, sinx is
approximately equal to x.
Since pi/180 is small sin(pi/180) is approximately pi/180 so
180*sin(pi/180) is approximately
equal to pi.  In fact a short pencil and paper calculation gives me:

3.1414331587110323074954161329369146450054896552851356830502369753075291567070526034093233

Neil Padgett wrote:

> Rigor Mortis <ksmith@CAPITOL-COLLEGE.EDU> muttered:
>
> ->Here's what i got for 180*sin 1
> ->TI-85: 3.14143315871
> ->HP48G: 3.14143315871
> ->
> ->Here's what i got for the constant pi
> ->TI-85: 3.14159265359
> ->HP48G: 3.14159265359
>
> Perhaps the polynomials used for sin/cos/tan are only accurate to a
> certain degree? Still (see my previous message), the compounding of
> these errors can yield unreliable or even DEAD WRONG results.

Follow-Ups:

Re: precision on all calcs

From: jeffrey steven bunds <bunds@STUDENTS.UIUC.EDU>

References:

precision on all calcs

From: Boogeyman <Boogeyman@EXTERMINATOR.NET>

Re: precision on all calcs

From: Rigor Mortis <ksmith@CAPITOL-COLLEGE.EDU>

Re: precision on all calcs

From: Neil Padgett <padgett@MCMASTER.CA>