Applications Of Trigonometry Throughout Human History

Abstract

This project investigates the ways that trigonometry has been utilized throughout human history. Information provided by present-day math historians on the internet was carefully read to find out how it was used. I took a course titled Origins of Mathematics that focused on many applications of mathematics. The sections of the class material relevant to this project were used. Mathematicians have made trigonometric measurements in different areas of study such as outer space and three-dimensional shapes. The place of origin for the function sine, one of the main trigonometric functions, is revealed. The form of trigonometry that was studied centuries ago mainly consisted of lines, arcs, shapes and handmade tables. Over time, trigonometry evolved, and today's trigonometry looks those same concepts as well angles and trigonometric functions. The results of this project show that trigonometry had a purpose of evolving knowledge into one that is more mathematical.