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Ptolemy's theorem states that the sum of the products of the lengths of opposite sides is equal to the product of the lengths of the diagonals. When those side-lengths are expressed in terms of the sin and cos values shown in the figure above, this yields the angle sum trigonometric identity for sine: sin(α + β) = sin α cos β + cos α sin β.
Using this standard notation, the argument x for the trigonometric functions satisfies the relationship x = (180x/ π)°, so that, for example, sin π = sin 180° when we take x = π. In this way, the degree symbol can be regarded as a mathematical constant such that 1° = π /180 ≈ 0.0175.
which by the Pythagorean theorem is equal to 1. This definition is valid for all angles, due to the definition of defining x = cos θ and y sin θ for the unit circle and thus x = c cos θ and y = c sin θ for a circle of radius c and reflecting our triangle in the y-axis and setting a = x and b = y.
For small angles, the trigonometric functions sine, cosine, and tangent can be calculated with reasonable accuracy by the following simple approximations: sin θ ≈ tan θ ≈ θ , cos θ ≈ 1 − 1 2 θ 2 ≈ 1 , {\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}\sin \theta &\approx \tan \theta \approx \theta ,\\[5mu]\cos \theta &\approx 1-{\tfrac ...
This geometric argument relies on definitions of arc length and area, which act as assumptions, so it is rather a condition imposed in construction of trigonometric functions than a provable property. [2] For the sine function, we can handle other values. If θ > π /2, then θ > 1. But sin θ ≤ 1 (because of the Pythagorean identity), so sin ...
The fixed point iteration x n+1 = cos(x n) with initial value x 0 = −1 converges to the Dottie number. Zero is the only real fixed point of the sine function; in other words the only intersection of the sine function and the identity function is sin ( 0 ) = 0 {\displaystyle \sin(0)=0} .
In contrast, by the Lindemann–Weierstrass theorem, the sine or cosine of any non-zero algebraic number is always transcendental. [4] The real part of any root of unity is a trigonometric number. By Niven's theorem, the only rational trigonometric numbers are 0, 1, −1, 1/2, and −1/2. [5]
Abu al-Wafa had sine tables in 0.25° increments, to 8 decimal places of accuracy, and accurate tables of tangent values. [16] He also made important innovations in spherical trigonometry [ 17 ] [ 18 ] [ 19 ] The Persian polymath Nasir al-Din al-Tusi has been described as the creator of trigonometry as a mathematical discipline in its own right.