What is trigonometry for?

The Greek word trigonometry can be broken down in trigonos (triangle) + metreo (measuring), this is, measuring of triangles. Every triangle has three sides and three angles. The study of trigonometry allows us to establish relations among the sides and the angles of a triangle.

Could you give us a practical example?

Of course I could. However, first I would like to explain that trigonometry is closely linked to the fact that every triangle can be broken down into two (or more) rectangle triangles. After having explained this here are some of the most common examples concerning the use of trigonometry that appear in school books: calculating the distance between two planes; calculating the height of a mountain; calculating the length of a tunnel; calculating the width of a river; calculating the slope of a ramp; calculating the distance from two ships to the coast.

How long has trigonometry existed?

Have you ever thought about the fact that people have known about the distance from the Earth to the Moon for more than 2000 years? Or else, how were people able to calculate the diameter of our planet when there weren´t calculators, computers or any other electronic gadgets? And how did ancient sailors manage to guide themselves in the ocean without any point of terrestrial reference? Well, the answer to all these questions can be found by means of trigonometry which emerged in the Ancient Greece about the year 150 B.C by the hand of Hyparco. This great mathematician, who is considered to be the trigonometry’s father by many historians, built the first trigonometry table (which is present nowadays), in order to help him to measure the distance between stars. This table was very important concerning the development of Astronomy since it allowed calculating distances that were completely unattainable.

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