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Another is sin^2(x) meaning (sin(x))^2, but by a more intuitive reading it should mean sin(sin(x)). I don't know what exactly is being gained by the usual nota
by billfruit 6y ago
Another is sin^2(x) meaning (sin(x))^2, but by a more intuitive reading it should mean sin(sin(x)).
I don't know what exactly is being gained by the usual notation: surely better clarity should be preferred over the time/effort saved in writing the extra pair of paranthesis, and I would prefer it be written as (sin(x))^2 always.
Thing is mathematics, and mathematical pedagogy seems hardly concerned with such rampant notation confusion plaguing much of maths. Perhaps moving to some type of machine-readable notation will be better for consistency and avoiding of much notational confusion.
- abdullahkhalids 6y agoDoes f^2(x) in any scenario mean (f(x))^2? Usually the square of a function, with named arguments is written as f(x)^2. So, not clear on the confusion.
- bonoboTP 6y agoYes, in trigonometry sin^2(x) is commonly written to mean (sin(x))^2
- saagarjha 6y agoWhen actually working with trigonometric identities, using parentheses typically gets unwieldily very quickly. Same reason sin(x) often becomes sin x.
- billfruit 6y agoThen perhaps we should drop all parens and move to prefix notation.