Applications of trigonometry

What can you do with trig? Historically, it was developed for astronomy and geography, but scientists have been using it for centuries for other purposes, too. Besides other fields of mathematics, trig is used in physics, engineering, and chemistry. Within mathematics, trig is used in primarily in calculus (which is perhaps its greatest application), linear algebra, and statistics. Since these fields are used throughout the natural and social sciences, trig is a very useful subject to know. Astronomy and geography Trigonometric tables were created over two thousand years ago for computations in astronomy. The stars were thought to be fixed on a crystal sphere of great size, and that model was perfect for practical purposes. Only the planets moved on the sphere. (At the time there were seven recognized planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the moon, and the sun. Those are the planets that we name our days of the week after. The earth wasn't yet considered to be a planet since it was the center of the universe, and the outer planets weren't discovered then.) The kind of trigonometry needed to understand positions on a sphere is called spherical trigonometry. Spherical trigonometry is rarely taught now since its job has been taken over by linear algebra. Nonetheless, one application of trigonometry is astronomy.

As the earth is also a sphere, trigonometry is used in geography and in navigation. Ptolemy (100178) used trigonometry in his Geography and used trigonometric tables in his works. Columbus carried a copy of Regiomontanus' Ephemerides Astronomicae on his trips to the New World and used it to his advantage. Engineering and physics Although trigonometry was first applied to spheres, it has had greater application to planes. Surveyors have used trigonometry for centuries. Engineers, both military engineers and otherwise, have used trigonometry nearly as long. Physics lays heavy demands on trigonometry. Optics and statics are two early fields of physics that use trigonometry, but all branches of physics use trigonometry since trigonometry aids in

understanding space. Related fields such as physical chemistry naturally use trig.

Mathematics and its applications Of course, trigonometry is used throughout mathematics, and, since mathematics is applied throughout the natural and social sciences, trigonometry has many applications. Calculus, linear algebra, and statistics, in particular, use trigonometry and have many applications in the all the sciences.

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Uses of trigonometry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search Amongst the lay public of non-mathematicians and non-scientists, trigonometry is known chiefly for its application to measurement problems, yet is also often used in ways that are far more subtle, such as its place in the theory of music; still other uses are more technical, such as in

number theory. The mathematical topics of Fourier series and Fourier transforms rely heavily on knowledge of trigonometric functions and find application in a number of areas, including statistics.

Contents
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1 Some fields in which trigonometry is applied 2 How these fields interact with trigonometry 3 Fourier series 4 Fourier transforms 5 Statistics, including mathematical psychology 6 A simple experiment with polarized sunglasses 7 Number theory

[edit] Some fields in which trigonometry is applied

Among the scientific fields that make use of trigonometry are these: acoustics, architecture, astronomy (and hence navigation, on the oceans, in aircraft, and in space; in this connection, see great circle distance), biology, cartography, chemistry, civil engineering, computer graphics, geophysics, crystallography, economics (in particular in analysis of financial markets), electrical engineering, electronics, land surveying and geodesy, many physical sciences, mechanical engineering, machining, medical imaging (CAT scans and ultrasound), meteorology, music theory, number theory (and hence cryptography), oceanography, optics, pharmacology, phonetics, probability theory, psychology, seismology, statistics, and visual perception, education.

[edit] How these fields interact with trigonometry

The fact that these fields make use of trigonometry does not mean knowledge of trigonometry is needed in order to learn anything about them. It does mean that some things in these fields cannot be understood without trigonometry. For example, a professor of music may perhaps know nothing of mathematics, but would probably know that Pythagoras was the earliest known contributor to the mathematical theory of music. In some of the fields of endeavor listed above it is easy to imagine how trigonometry could be used. For example, in navigation and land surveying, the occasions for the use of trigonometry are in at least some cases simple enough that they can be described in a beginning trigonometry textbook. In the case of music theory, the application of trigonometry is related to work begun by Pythagoras, who observed that the sounds made by plucking two strings of different lengths are consonant if both lengths are small integer

multiples of a common length. The resemblance between the shape of a vibrating string and the graph of the sine function is no mere coincidence. In oceanography, the resemblance between the shapes of some waves and the graph of the sine function is also not coincidental. In some other fields, among them climatology, biology, and economics, there are seasonal periodicities. The study of these often involves the periodic nature of the sine and cosine function.

[edit] Fourier series

Many fields make use of trigonometry in more advanced ways than can be discussed in a single article. Often those involve what are called Fourier series, after the 18th- and 19thcentury French mathematician and physicist Joseph Fourier. Fourier series have a surprisingly diverse array of applications in many scientific fields, in particular in all of the phenomena involving seasonal periodicities mentioned above, and in wave motion, and hence in the study of radiation, of acoustics, of seismology, of modulation of radio waves in electronics, and of electric power engineering. A Fourier series is a sum of this form:

where each of the squares ( ) is a different number, and one is adding infinitely many terms. Fourier used these for studying heat flow and diffusion (diffusion is the process whereby, when you drop a sugar cube into a gallon of water, the sugar gradually spreads through the water, or a pollutant spreads through the air, or any dissolved substance spreads through any fluid). Fourier series are also applicable to subjects whose connection with wave motion is far from obvious. One ubiquitous example is digital compression whereby images, audio and video data are compressed into a much smaller size which makes their transmission feasible over telephone, internet and broadcast networks. Another example, mentioned above, is diffusion. Among others are: the geometry of numbers, isoperimetric problems, recurrence of random walks, quadratic reciprocity, the central limit theorem, Heisenberg's inequality.

[edit] Fourier transforms

A more abstract concept than Fourier series is the idea of Fourier transform. Fourier transforms involve integrals rather than sums, and are used in a similarly diverse array of scientific fields. Many natural laws are expressed by relating rates of change of quantities to the quantities themselves. For example: The rate of change of population is sometimes jointly proportional to (1) the present population and (2) the amount by which the present population falls short of the carrying capacity. This kind of relationship is called a differential equation. If, given this information, we try to express population as a

function of time, we are trying to "solve" the differential equation. Fourier transforms may be used to convert some differential equations to algebraic equations for which methods of solving them are known. Fourier transforms have many uses. In almost any scientific context in which the words spectrum, harmonic, or resonance are encountered, Fourier transforms or Fourier series are nearby.

[edit] Statistics, including mathematical psychology

Intelligence quotients are sometimes held to be distributed according to the bell-shaped curve. About 40% of the area under the curve is in the interval from 100 to 120; correspondingly, about 40% of the population scores between 100 and 120 on IQ tests. Nearly 9% of the area under the curve is in the interval from 120 to 140; correspondingly, about 9% of the population scores between 120 and 140 on IQ tests, etc. Similarly many other things are distributed according to the "bell-shaped curve", including measurement errors in many physical measurements. Why the ubiquity of the "bell-shaped curve"? There is a theoretical reason for this, and it involves Fourier transforms and hence trigonometric functions. That is one of a variety of applications of Fourier transforms to statistics. Trigonometric functions are also applied when statisticians study seasonal periodicities, which are often represented by Fourier series.

[edit] A simple experiment with polarized sunglasses

Get two pairs of identical polarized sunglasses (unpolarized sunglasses won't work here). Put the left lens of one pair atop the right lens of the other, both aligned identically. Slowly rotate one pair, and you observe that the amount of light that gets through decreases until the two lenses are at right angles to each other, when no light gets through. When the angle through which the one pair is rotated is , what fractions of the light that penetrates when the angle is 0, gets through? Answer: it is cos 2 . For example, when the angle is 60 degrees, only 1/4 as much light penetrates the series of two lenses as when the angle is 0 degrees, since the cosine of 60 degrees is 1/2.

[edit] Number theory

There is a hint of a connection between trigonometry and number theory. Loosely speaking, one could say that number theory deals with qualitative properties rather than quantitative properties of numbers. A central concept in number theory is "divisibility" (example: 42 is divisible by 14 but not by 15). The idea of putting a fraction in lowest terms also uses the concept of divisibility: e.g., 15/42 is not in lowest terms because 15 and 42 are both divisible by 3. Look at the sequence of fractions

Discard the ones that are not in lowest terms; keep only those that are in lowest terms:

Then bring in trigonometry:

The value of the sum is 1. How do we know that? Because 42 has an odd number of prime factors and none of them is repeated: 42 = 2 3 7. (If there had been an even number of non-repeated factors then the sum would have been 1; if there had been any repeated prime factors (e.g., 60 = 2 2 3 5) then the sum would have been 0; the sum is the Mbius function evaluated at 42.) This hints at the possibility of applying Fourier analysis to number theory. Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uses_of_trigonometry" View page ratings

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Trigonometry
Now we can translate this into arcsin 4x = 1. Lets assume 4x = y and we get arcsin y = 1. The result is y = + 2 K. Because y = 4x, so we divide y by 4 and /2 + 2 K by 4, and we get /8 + K/2 for x. PREPARING Become a MATIZEN What is Math Planet ? A Crash Course on Algebra A Crash Course on Geometry

The Practical Use of Trigonometry

There are many uses of trigonometry. The most common use is to calculate linear velocity. The equation for linear velocity is V = Wr, where V is the linear velocity, W is the angular velocity in radian which is acquire by multiply the speed by 2 , and r is radius of the thing that is rotating. Following is a sample problem:

EXPLORING Advanced Math Topic What is the linear velocity of a wheel if it rotates 45 times a minute, Customized Lessons and its radius is 1 ft? SAT & ACT Reviews V = Wr INTERACTING Math Games V = 45 x 2 x 1 Discussion Forum Math Live! Chat V = 90 Rotation Feet per Minute. COLLECTING Math Search MATIZEN Qualifi-cation Test Acknowledgements The Creatures Behind the Math Planet Trigonometry is the most important concept of advanced math. Its uses can be seen almost anywhere. So having a good knowledge of trigonometry will help you both in your lives and your works. Please take a few minutes break and click here to continue. (You can also click on the drop-down list below to jump to any chapter you like.)

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Trigonometric Functions

1. Angles 2. Sine, Cosine, Tangent & Reciprocals 3. Values of Trigonometric Functions 4. The Right Triangle and Applications Trigonometry Revision Summary 5. Signs of the Trigonometric Functions 6. Trigonometric Functions of Any Angle 7. Radians 8. Applications of Radian Measure Pulleys 9. Radians and the Trigonometric Ratios Trigonometric functions Problem Solver Comments, Questions?

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Trigonometric Functions
by M. Bourne

Why learn about trigonometric functions...?

Example problem: How high above sea level is the top of the Sydney Opera House? Have you ever thought about how tomeasure that height? See how this is done in The Right Triangle and its Applications.

The trigonometric functions are very important in technical subjects like science, engineering, architecture, and even medicine. You will come across trig functions all the time and you are encouraged to learn them well!

Surveying is one of the many applications. Road makers, bridge builders and those whose job it is to get buildings in the right place all use trigonometry in their daily work. For more applications and examples of trigonometry in Interactive Mathematics, check out the many Uses of Trigonometry. See also: Math Tips - Trigonometry. In this chapter we start by explaining the basic trigonometric functions using degrees (), and in the later part of the chapter we will learn about radians and how they are used in trigonometry.
Related Sections in "Interactive Mathematics" Graphs of Trigonometric Functions, which are really helpful for understanding what is going on in trigonometry. Analytic Trigonometry, which includes double angle formulas, trig ratios of the sum of 2 angles, trigonometric equations and inverse trig equations. Polar Coordinates, which work in much the same way as the topics in this chapter. Derivatives of the Transcendental Functions, which shows how to differentiate sin, cos, tan, csc, sec and cot functions. Integration using Trigonometric Forms, where we see how our knowledge of trigonometry can make calculus easier. Line Spectrum in Fourier Series, which is an advanced application of trigonometry. And of course, don't miss the Uses of Trigonometry summary.

In this Chapter 1. Angles - the building blocks of trigonometry. In degrees. 2. Sine, Cosine, Tangent & Reciprocals - these fractions are the key for all future trigonometry study. 3. Values of Trigonometric Functions - Why does sin 30 = 0.5? 4. The Right Triangle and Applications - includes angle of depression and angle of elevation. 5. Signs of the Trigonometric Functions - this is no big deal if you remember how we define the basic ratios. Includes an interactive document for seeing how the ratios of angles larger than 90 degrees work.

6. Trigonometric Functions of Any Angle - don't give up in this section! 7. Radians - the alternative to degrees - and much more useful. 8. Applications of Radian Measure - includes arc length, area of a sector, angular velocity, a game and pulleys. 9. Radians and the Trigonometric Ratios - how trigonometry works when the angle measure is radians.

This chapter starts with some reminders about Angles.

1. Angles

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