Skip to main content

A Note on the History of Trigonometric Functions

  • Conference paper
International Symposium on History of Machines and Mechanisms

Abstract

Trigonometric functions appear very frequently in mechanism kinematic equations (for example as soon a revolute joint is involved in the mechanism). Dealing with these functions is di cult and trigonometric substi- tutions are used to transform them into algebraic terms that can be handled more easily. We present briefly the origin of the trigonometric functions and of these substitutions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Grattan-Guiness I. Companion Encyclopedia of the History and Philosophy of the Mathematical Science. I. Grattan-Guiness Ed., Londres, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Jeffrey D.J. The importance of being continuous. Mathematics Magazine, 67:294–300, 1994.

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  3. Karpinski L.C. The place of trigonometry in the development of mathematical sciences. Scripta Math., 12:268–272, 1946.

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  4. Katz V.J. The calculus of the trigonometric functions. Historia Mathematica, 14(4):311–324, 1987.

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  5. Singh A.N. Hindu trigonometry. Proc. Benares Math. Soc., 1:77–92, 1939.

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  6. Singh S.L. and Chand R. Hindu trigonometry. J. Natur. Phys. Sci., 5/8:159–166, 1991/94.

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  7. Stewart J. Single variable calculus. Brooks/Cole, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Toomer G.J. The chord table of Hipparchus and the early history of Greek trigonometry. Centaurus, 18:6–28, 1973/74.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  9. Van der Waerden B.L. On Greek and Hindu trigonometry. Bull. Soc. Math. Belg. Sér., A38:397–407, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers

About this paper

Cite this paper

Merlet, JP. (2004). A Note on the History of Trigonometric Functions. In: Ceccarelli, M. (eds) International Symposium on History of Machines and Mechanisms. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-2204-2_16

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-2204-2_16

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-2203-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-2204-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics