🚀 go-pugleaf

On 8 Nov 1995, Writers Network wrote:

> Hi! This is my first time using the net and I have a question.  I was won=
dering why problems in=20
> calculus involving trigonometry must use radian measure instead of degree=
 measure.  Why is this=20
> the case?
> Thanks, Annette (Holy Heart of Mary - St John's, Nfld. Canada)=20
>=20
=09The differentiation formulas for sin=E9 and cos=E9 require knowing=20
the special limit:

=09lim (sin=E9)/=E9 =3D 1
       =E9->0=20

=09This limit only holds if =E9 is measured in radians.  You can=20
easily see this using a calculator, by taking smaller and smaller values=20
of =E9 in radians and degrees, and then computing sin=E9 / =E9.  You'll fin=
d=20
that the values will approach 1 if you use radians, but will approach=20
some other value if you use degrees.
=09I hope this helps. =20