matlab calculates cosine different from my calculator

If i calculate cos(1) in matlab I get ans=0.5403 whereas my calculator says 0.9998, what am I missing?

[madhan ravi]

Haha had the same doubt when started with programming so +1

Answer 1

[Star Strider]

Your calculator is calculating in degrees. By default MATLAB calculates in radians:

MATLAB = cos(1)
Calculator = cosd(1)

produces:

MATLAB =
   0.540302305868140


Calculator =
   0.999847695156391

Use the MATLAB cosd function (and the other ‘d’ trigonometric functions) to calculate in degrees.

[Agnes Brogeby]

That solved it, thank you!

[Star Strider]

As always, my pleasure!