Working with degrees instead of radians

[cornelius bay]

Homework Statement

If x is measured in radians, then the derivative of Sin[x] with respect to x is Cos[x].

Use the formula Sin [x degrees] = Sin [2π/360 x radians]
to calculate the derivative of Sin [x degrees] with respect to x.

Why does the resulting formula make calculus difficult if you insist on working with degrees instead of radians?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Homework Equations

y = sin [πx/180]
y' = 1/180 * π * cos[πx/180]

The Attempt at a Solution

I don't understand the "Why does the resulting formula make calculus difficult if you insist on working with degrees instead of radians?" question.

 

[LCKurtz]

Don't you think that having a pi/180 nuisance factor in all derivatives of the trig functions qualifies as a reason?