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Re: Calculators



FOUAD AJAMI wrote:

Is there any calculator that will give the two values of inverse
trigonometric functions?

Are you sure you want to say "two values"?
In the sense that sqrt() has two values,
I suspect that arcsin() has somewhat more than two values.

On the other hand, students should know how to calculate these things.

I would think so.

If they understand the principles, then _any_ calculator
will easily yield the required values.

If they don't understand the principles, there is nothing
any calculator can do that will improve the situation much.

However, it seems that I am spending a lot of time explaining simple
trigonometric principles in connection with a course in waves.
Same kind of arguments as when we moved from slide rules to
calculators in the 70's.?

My grandfather used to say "it's a poor workman who blames his tools."