Re: Order of Operations problem in Excel

From: Alan Beban (alannospambeban_at_pacbell.net)
Date: 03/08/04 

Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2004 13:12:20 -0800

I misposted; the Excel function is COS not cosine. See from the Excel
help for COS:

COS
See Also

Returns the cosine of the given angle.

Syntax

COS(number)

Number is the angle in radians for which you want the cosine. If the
angle is in degrees, multiply it by PI()/180 to convert it to radians.

Examples

COS(1.047) equals 0.500171

COS(60*PI()/180) equals 0.5, the cosine of 60 degrees

Alan Beban

Crash Test Dummy wrote:
> Try same in a handheld calculator or software calculator under Start-Accessories-Calculator
> (scientific mode)
>
> Alan Beban <alannospambeban@pacbell.net> wrote:
>
>>When I enter in a cell =cosine(1.213004), it returns .350207222.
>>
>>Alan Beban
>>
>>Crash Test Dummy wrote:
>>
>>>Here is the exact wording of the Excel help you mentioned:
>>>
>>>The order in which Microsoft Excel performs operations in formulas: If
>>
> you
>
>>>combine several operators in a single formula, Microsoft Excel performs
>>
> the
>
>>>operations in the order shown in the following table. If a formula contains
>>>operators with the same precedence - for example, if a formula contains
>>
> both
>
>>>a multiplication and division operator - Microsoft Excel evaluates the
>>
> operators
>
>>>from left to right. To change the order of evaluation, enclose the part
>>
> of
>
>>>the formula to be calculated first in parentheses.
>>>
>>>OK, to state again my point, the original equation is cos(34.75/90*3.141593).
>>>I do not want to change the order of operation inside of the () so it
>>
> should
>
>>>calculate left to right inside of the () then calculate the cos of that
>>
> number.
>
>>>34.75/90=0.3861111
>>>0.3861111*3.141593=1.213004
>>>cos(1.213004)=0.9997759
>>>
>>>When the original equation is placed in an excel cell, it produces the
>>
> answer
>
>>>0.350207256. If excel calculated from left to right inside of the parenthesis,
>>>then took the cosine of that number, the answer should be 0.9997759.
>>>
>>>Thanks for your input. Please try this same formula using a calculator
>>
> or
>
>>>some other piece of software. I am using Agilent VEE 6.1 and it agrees
>>
> with
>
>>>my handheld calculator and the calculator under Accessories in the Start
>>>menu with the answer 0.9997759.
>>>
>>>JE McGimpsey <jemcgimpsey@mvps.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>XL is performing the calculations in correct order according to its
>>>>specifications.
>>>>
>>>>See "The order in which Microsoft Excel performs operations in formulas"
>>>
>>>
>>>>in XL Help.
>>>>
>>>>FWIW: you may want to substitute the built-in function PI() for 3.141593.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>In article <404ca603$1@127.0.0.1>,
>>>>"Crash Test Dummy" <this_group@here.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>I am using Excel (Office 97).
>>>>>
>>>>>I am having problems with order of operations. Here are some examples
>>>>
>>>that
>>>
>>>
>>>>>are self-explanatory. Each of the examples represent formulas in cells
>>>>
>>>and
>>>
>>>
>>>>>the result is listed after the = sign.
>>>>>
>>>>>34.75/90*3.141593=1.213003964
>>>>>(34.75/90*3.141593)=1.213003964
>>>>>
>>>>>COS(34.75/90*3.141593)=0.350207256 This one is wrong if the calculation
>>>>>is performed in the () in order from left to right.
>>>>>
>>>>>COS(34.75/(90*3.141593))=0.992456932 Here you can see the only way to
>>>>
>>>get
>>>
>>>
>>>>>the same result as other programs or using any calculator (even the Windows
>>>>>calculator in Accessories) is by adding an extra set of ()'s.
>>>>>
>>>>>I am concerned about all of the formulas in Excel that users believe
>>>>
> the
>
>>>>>order of operations is being correctly performed.
>>>>>
>>>>>Please comment if you feel I am in error or this is a problem (documented
>>>>>or not).
>>>>
>>>
>>>
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