🚀 go-pugleaf

>Hi! This is my first time using the net and I have a question.  I was wondering why problems in 
>calculus involving trigonometry must use radian measure instead of degree measure.  Why is this 
>the case?
>Thanks, Annette (Holy Heart of Mary - St John's, Nfld. Canada) 


Another consideration is that when you take the derivative of a cosine
(of something)  (for example) the result is negative sine (of that
something) times the derivative of that something.  If that something
is a degree measure, then you must include the factor pi/180 as well.

I teach my students that we use radians because we do not need the
pi/180 correction factor necessary when we use degrees.  This is much
like the discussion we get into when the topic is derivatives of logs. 
Basically, I say that they are not allowed to take the derivative of
any log unless it is base e  (ie.  natural log).  If you have a log
base anything other than e they must convert the log to base e and then
they are allowed to take the derivative.  Why?  Because (for example)
the derivative of log  base 10 of x  is  (one over x ) times log base
10 of e.  The "log base 10 of e"  is the "correction factor" when you
take the der of a non-base-e log like the correction factor pi/180
mentioned above.

Am I helping you understand this?  All of a sudden I think this rambles
too much.  I hope I have helped.

Jim