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Complex Lock mode for WP-34s
03-17-2015, 07:19 PM (This post was last modified: 04-16-2015 02:34 PM by BarryMead.)
Post: #9
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s
(03-17-2015 11:48 AM)Jeff O. Wrote:  
(03-17-2015 11:28 AM)Nigel (UK) Wrote:  I have no objection to Range: and Angle:. Is this a US thing? My background is physics and to me "modulus" and "argument" are the natural terms. Jeff O also wanted Range: and Angle: so it's 2-1 at the moment. Nigel (UK)

I actually would prefer "magnitude" (Mag) and Angle, but that may be an EE thing. But it is no big deal. The only (weak) argument I have against Mod is that there is of course a "Mod" function on the calculator, and it seems like the same three letters should not have two uses or meanings on the same machine.
I agree that "Mod" is a confusing choice for the (Vector Length, Range, Magnitude) part of the polar pair for the reason you gave, and for one additional reason. Vector Length's don't repeat, but Angular components repeat themselves modulo 2 PI or 360 degrees so when I saw the label "Mod" I was confused thinking it might represent the angular component of the polar coordinate pair. Anyway "Mod" and "Arg" don't give any clue as to weather they represent length or angular properties, that is why I suggested "Range" and "Angle" which clearly do.

Any of the following Label sets would work equally well and be easier for users, perhaps ask Jeff and a few other people which sounds better to them:
1. "Range" "Angle"
2. "Length" "Angle"
3. "Mag" "Angle"

I like 1 and 2 better than 3, but it is more of a personal preference kind of thing.

About the history of the terms Range and Angle. I think they may have originated from Artillary, or Submarine backgrounds. The "Range" to target is a Distance component and the "Angle" is an angular aiming component. The words are relatively short, and descriptive which is why I suggested them as data entry labels. I come from an Electronics Engineering background myself.
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Messages In This Thread
Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - Nigel (UK) - 03-16-2015, 08:03 PM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - Jeff O. - 03-16-2015, 08:22 PM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - Jeff O. - 03-17-2015, 11:48 AM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - BarryMead - 03-17-2015 07:19 PM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - Jeff O. - 03-17-2015, 11:50 PM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - Bit - 03-18-2015, 02:50 AM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - Jeff O. - 03-19-2015, 05:41 PM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - Bit - 03-23-2015, 12:40 AM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - Jeff O. - 03-23-2015, 12:03 PM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - emece67 - 03-23-2015, 05:12 PM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - emece67 - 04-22-2015, 12:17 AM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - emece67 - 04-22-2015, 10:44 AM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - Jeff O. - 04-24-2015, 05:44 PM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - Jeff O. - 04-29-2015, 12:18 PM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - Jeff O. - 04-13-2015, 01:55 PM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - Jeff O. - 04-14-2015, 11:42 AM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - emece67 - 04-29-2015, 02:02 PM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - emece67 - 05-05-2015, 06:21 PM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - emece67 - 05-06-2015, 07:13 AM
RE: Complex Lock mode for WP-34s - Jeff O. - 02-23-2019, 01:26 AM



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