ipl-logo

Trigonometry: Development In Ancient Civilization

1377 Words6 Pages

History of Trigonometry
By Akshay Goyal(11110013)
B.Tech (4th year)
Abstract
The essay involves the birth of trigonometry and its subsequent development in ancient civilization. Although Greek and Babylonian mathematician laid the foundation of spherical trigonometry by discovering relations between spherical triangles and constructing tables of trigonometric functions but it was India who invented computational trigonometry which we use today to solve problems. Indian mathematician laid the foundation of plane trigonometry which was further carried out by Islam mathematician and finally became the modern day trigonometry.
Introduction
Trigonometry is a branch of mathematics which deals with its geometrical part to compute any unknown …show more content…

So we cannot say conclusively that trigonometry was born in Egypt.
Greek Civilization
The work that gave shape to modern trigonometry was done by Greek mathematicians. The father of trigonometry Hipparchus (190-120 BC) was the first to construct a table of values for trigonometric functions of different certain angles[ ]. Although he used geometrical formulas between various chords and its certain angles to calculate values but due to property of chord given below [ ] trigonometric formulas were known to him in equivalent chord form. However, later it was Ptolemy who modified the Hipparchus’s table into table of sine with angle ranging from …show more content…

So all in all, we can say that Hindu Mathematicians had done remarkable work on the Trigonometric functions and later their work was carried out by Arab mathematicians and there some of the words like jya and kot-ijya were converted to sine and cosine which we use today.
Application of Trigonometry:
The first and foremost application is in astronomy to calculate as explained earlier but today trigonometry is also used for other things like: Used in finding the heights of towers, mountains and also in oceanography department to calculate the height of tides in the ocean by using angle of elevation and line of sight of human eye. Used in navigation for ships, to calculate the structural load by finding out the slopes of surfaces and also in communication department for calculating various sine and cosine wave motions.
Conclusion:
Trigonometry has existed for at least two centuries in different form and although the initial aim of developing trigonometry was just to calculate the distance between celestial body but in Egypt and in the India trigonometry took a more computational form rather than geometric form in Greek period. Development of trigonometry was and will be a continuous process and therefore we can see how much work had gone into developing it into modern day

Show More
Related

  • How Did Mongolia Contribute To The Development Of Global Culture

    827 Words  | 4 Pages

    Advancements in mathematics, such as the abacus allowed for efficient calculations of different things such as censuses and accounts for goods. The Mongols used Indian and Arabic mathematical advancements for more efficient and complex calculations. As well as mathematics, historical writings led to the development of a new, global culture by influencing the ways the Mongol reigned over their subjects. The Mongols added their own styles of rule to these writings led to the development of a new, global culture. Technological knowledge, like printing, led to the development of a new, global culture by allowing for information to be disseminated across the globe.

    Read More

  • How Did Euclid Start A Dbq On Antigone

    622 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Ancient Greeks laid foundations for the Western civilizations in the fields of math and science. Euclid, a Greek mathematician known as the “Father of Geometry,” is arguably the most prominent mind of the Greco-Roman time, best known for his composition in the area of geometry, the Elements. (Document 5) To this day, Euclid’s work is still taught in schools worldwide.

    Read More

  • Ap Euro Renaissance Dbq

    746 Words  | 3 Pages

    Such as the way people thought the layout of the universe was. There were two different ways it was assumed to look either in the favor of Ptolemy or Copernicus. “He developed a theory of the universe that was adopted by most scholars” (Doc C). The difference in scientific information from the Renaissance to the Middle Ages verified how statistics has developed throughout time. Roman astronomer, Ptolemy, developed a geocentric (Earth-centered) model of the universe which was believed to be true by most scholars (Doc C).

    Read More

  • Claudius Ptolemy's Accomplishments

    230 Words  | 1 Pages

    With most of his personal life shrouded in mystery, Claudius Ptolemy’s life stories and travels are shrouded in mystery, with only a few key details to work off of. On the other hand, there are plentiful amounts of data about his achievements, books, and countless other legacies. Ptolemy was mostly acknowledged for The Algamest, a book that contained countless maps and observations about astronomy, and the solar system. Even though a bit of the book was flawed, considering he thought that our solar system was geocentric, there were many ideas about planetary motion that other astronomers found breathtaking. His other works were also meticulously detailed, and some of which will be discussed in further detail in the next few paragraphs.

    Read More

  • Archimedes Dbq

    432 Words  | 2 Pages

    He found the first “reliable figure” for π(pi) (Source A). In ancient Greece, the crude number system was very inefficient, and Archimedes made it easier to understand and count to higher numbers (Source B). Finally, he used the first known form of calculus while studying curved surfaces under Euclid, not to be later worked on for 2,000 years by Isaac Newton (Source A).

    Read More

  • Contributions Of Islam Dbq Essay

    697 Words  | 3 Pages

    The understanding of mathematics also led them to advancements in astronomy and mapmaking. Document 5 states, “They used astrolabe (figure A) and the armillary sphere (Figure B) to study the skies and make calculations for their calendars and maps.” The two advancements mentioned in the evidence are both still

    Read More

  • Renaissance Dbq Essay

    803 Words  | 4 Pages

    Before the Renaissance people viewed the world as God (and the Church) willed. In Document C, the drawing by Ptolemy is similar to Copernicus. In Ptolemy’s drawing he writes that the outer sphere is where Heaven, God, and the Elect are. The influence of the Church was very strong in 100 CE, so religion was incorporated in most places. In fact this man was probably employed by the Church to pursue his studies.

    Read More

  • Personal Narrative: A Career As A Veterinarian

    540 Words  | 3 Pages

    The career that I have decided I would like to have one day is as a veterinarian. I really enjoy and care for animals and love to help them. I have some pets of my own and help them when they need it. I really like science and math and think this job is perfect for me. Being a vet involves a lot of mathematics.

    Read More

  • Art Of The Western World: The Classical Ideal

    552 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Classical Ideal” In the documentary, “Art of the Western World-The Classical Ideal”, the narrator provides a history and a perspective on the Greek and Roman creation of the “Classical Ideal” to art and architecture. The narrator infers that the foundation of the two societies, namely their democratic falsifies and religious foundations, along with their focus on fitness, personal strength, calculations and intelligence, drove Greece and later Rome, to perfect their visions of balance, symmetry and beauty in their architecture and art. Greece and Rome are often held out as the greatest societies to have ever existed.

    Read More

  • Dbq Essay On Mayan Civilization

    814 Words  | 4 Pages

    Finally, Math's and science are also one of the achievements the Maya's accomplished. The importance of science and calendar calculations in Mayan society required mathematics and the Maya constructed quite early a very advanced number system. The Maya produced a vast array of structures, and have left an extensive architectural legacy. " Based on its architectural remains, Maya civilization ranks as in of the great preindustrial cultures of the world. "(Document

    Read More

  • Ancient Greek And Ancient Chinese Science Comparison

    777 Words  | 4 Pages

    Title: A Glimpse to Ancient Greek and Ancient Chinese Science 1. Introduction Ancient China and ancient Greece are cradles of ancient civilizations, where existed numerous philosophers who devoted their whole life to exploring nature, therefore ancient science was born. It is obvious that ancient Greek and Chinese science share some similar thoughts while having several distinctions. 2. Comparisons between ancient Greek and Chinese science 2.1.

    Read More

  • Mayan Civilization DBQ Essay

    815 Words  | 4 Pages

    It was very genius for Aztecs as well as Incas to have generated an agricultural structure. The Aztecs and the Mayas both also had numerical logic. A general math system was formed through their cleverness. The mathematical formulation was based on the unit 20. Art and Craftsmen took part as well in all the Mayas, the Aztecs, and the Incas.

    Read More

  • Nicolaus Copernicus Research Paper

    1141 Words  | 5 Pages

    He thoroughly elaborates and investigates the motions in longitude of the five planets and the size of their orbits in relation to that of the earth (Armitage, 1990, pg. 70). Nicolaus repeatedly overrides Ptolemy’s theory in this section of the piece. Book VI simply explains the movement of the planets in latitude. On May 24, 1543, Nicolaus suffered a hemorrhage, leading to the paralysis of his entire right side of the body. He died at the age of only 70.

    Read More

  • Why Is Ancient Egypt Important

    678 Words  | 3 Pages

    But the construction of these architectural landmarks was not easy to make, there was a prerequisite of some form of advanced math and geometry. But they used math for other things as well such as, numbers to keep track of business transactions. The Ancient Egyptians were the first

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Globalization And Technology

    2235 Words  | 9 Pages

    GLOBALIZATION, TECHNOLOGY AND LAW Globalization and Technology Globalization has completely transformed the way in which the world and its people interact. Earlier there were several roadblocks in the ability to communicate and interact with the people worldwide. But now, the world is becoming more and more globalized in all spheres: Business, financial, social, economical, etc. Over the years, a lot of technological advancements have come into picture including the changes in the field of Information Technology, having a significant impact on the global landscape.

    Read More

More about Trigonometry: Development In Ancient Civilization

Open Document