Hindu Achievements in Exact Science: A Study in the History of Scientific Development c10: IV. Trigonometry
Hindu Achievements in Exact Science: A Study in the History of Scientific Development c10
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IV. Trigonometry
c10.2
HINDU trigonometry was in advance of the Greek in certain particulars. The Hindus anticipated modern trigonometry also in a few points.
c10.3
The mathematicians of India devised (1) the table of sines, and (2) the table of versed sines. The term "sine" is an Arabic corruption from Sanskrit "shinjini."
c10.4
The use of sines was unknown to the Greeks. They calculated by the help of the chords.
c10.5
The Hindu table of sines exhibits them to every twenty-fourth part of the quadrant, the table of versed sines does the same. In each, the sine or versed sine is expressed in minutes of the circumference, neglecting fractions.
c10.6
The rule for the computation of the sines indicates the method of computing a table by means of their second differences. This is a considerable refinement in calculation, and was first practised in modern times by the English mathematician Briggs (1556–1631).
c10.7
The astronomical tables of the Hindus prove that they were acquainted with the principal theorems of spherical trigonometry.