Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Fruity Mathematics used by Ancient Muslims

In this paragraph I'll be talking about how the ancient life of Muslims used mathematics, especially trigonometry.


Trigonometry is also mostly a Muslim creation. It is a branch of mathematics which studies plane and spherical triangles. It developed from the need of astronomers to map points in the sky on a heavenly sphere. Trigonometry's functions, involving ratios such as sine and cosine, tangent and cotangent, were greatly developed and refined in the Islamic lands.



Arab contributions:

Al-Tusi, a Muslim, is the "father of trigonometry".
The idea of trigonometry was originally from the Greeks, by Hipparchus in 140 BCE.
The Muslims further developed trigonometry from their work in astronomy.
Today astronomers use trigonometry for calculating distances to stars, and for measuring distances and heights of buildings, trees, etc.


Top: Western Arabic or Hindu-Arabic Numerals

Below: Modern Arabic numerals which developed from them

[ Still Under Construction ]

No comments: