FEB
20
Leopard Spotlight - Calculator Functions
Posted by Wendy
Besides doing logical expression, Leopard Spotlight can also do some mathematical calculations. Are you curious what are those functions?
I know a little bit about Java Programming Language, so I try to use the Math library, which contains some functions to do scientific calculations, on Spotlight. To my surprise, some of these functions work.
Here are some examples :
Trigonometry
-
sin(0.5) = 0.479
sinus of 0.5, result in radian. -
cos(0.5) = 0.878
cosinus of 0.5, result in radian. -
tan(0.25) = 0.255
tangent of 0.25, result in radian. -
asin(1) = 1.57
arc sinus of 1 radian. -
acos(1) = 0
arc cosinus of 1 radian. -
atan(1) = 0.785
arc tangent of 1 radian.
Approximation
-
ceil(0.48) = 1
Rounded to nearest smaller integer value. -
rint(0.51) = 1
Rounded to nearest integer value.
Exponential and Logarithm
-
exp(2) = 7.389
Euler's number e to the power of 2. -
pow(5,2) = 25
5 to the power of 2. -
sqrt(36) = 6
Square-root of 36. -
cbrt(216) = 6
Cube-root of 216. -
log(1e3) = 3
Logarithmic base 10 of 1*10^3.
COMMENTS
Himavanth B
February 20th, 2008 at 11:47 PM
well i don't no that it can even calculate Trigonometry and others thanks
Peter
February 21st, 2008 at 11:34 PM
heh great stuff..
christian
February 22nd, 2008 at 01:27 AM
Of what kind is the relation between Spotlight and the Java Math library?
Juan de Dios Santander Vela
May 15th, 2008 at 05:46 PM
In fact, Spotlight is written in Objective-C, and uses math.h functions. Java took some of those functions for the java.math package. I've written a exhaustive exploration of math.h functions available through Spotlight's calculator in Spanish, but the functions summary is easily understandable. http://www.entremaqueros.com/bitacoras/memoria/?p=946
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