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Index › Programming Questions & Help › Syntax Questions › why HALF_PI, TWO_PI, etc.

davidkanaga YaBB Newbies Offline Posts: 7	why HALF_PI, TWO_PI, etc.? May 31st, 2009, 5:03pm   I was just wondering why the QUARTER_PI, HALF_PI, and TWO_PI constants exist. It seems easier to just type PI/4, PI/2, and 2*PI. Is it to make programs run more quickly because they have less to calculate? I can't think of any other reason. Just curious... Thanks - David

PhiLho  YaBB Moderator Offline Posts: 4190 Near Paris (France)	Re: why HALF_PI, TWO_PI, etc.? Reply #1 - Jun 1st, 2009, 12:56am   I would say readability and convenience, which can be argued, of course, but might be nice for the core target of Processing: newbies. Of course, you can still use the form you show too... The speed should be the same, if I am not mistaken, the compiler probably pre-calculate such constants anyway.

Blaine YaBB Newbies Offline Posts: 17	Re: why HALF_PI, TWO_PI, etc.? Reply #2 - Jun 1st, 2009, 7:56am   I use half_pi quite a bit in reation to rotation using radians. Half Pi is 90 degrees. Granted, it's more work (typing 7 characters instead of 4). But if forced to imagine a reason they exist, I'd guess for using radians.

davidkanaga YaBB Newbies Offline Posts: 7	Re: why HALF_PI, TWO_PI, etc.? Reply #3 - Jun 1st, 2009, 11:09am   hmmm, good to know... thanks for the thoughts