Actually I think the cause here is integer division. Both minute() and 60 are integers so the result of that calculation in the second formula will always be 0, which of course has consequences for the rest of the calculation. The first formula circumvents this problem somewhat by multiplying by 360 first. To get accurate results you can use floats where it matters:

1. float m = minute() * 360/60 - 90;
2. println(m);
3. 
   
4. m = minute()/60.0 * 360 - 90;
5. println(m);
6. 
   
7. exit();

Right on spot !

The thought of an integer division crossed by mind, but I didn't bother to check that out
once I saw commutative order w/ division. 

And since minute() results an int, to force a fractional operation, the other operand has to be a float or double.

Besides 60.0, those following alternatives work as well:

• 60.
• 60f
• 60e0
• (float) minute()
• etc...