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Three Basic Trig Functions Of Trigonometry

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SIX BASIC TRIG FUNCTIONS

Trigonometry, stemming from the greek words trigonon and metron , is the branch of mathematics in which sides and angles within in a triangle are examined in relation to one another. A right triangle has six total functions used in correlation to its angles, represented by the greek letter theta (θ). The primary operations are sine (sin), cosine (cos) and tangent (tan) which serve also as the reciprocal of cosecant (csc), secant (sec), and cotangent (cot) in that order. All six have abbreviations shown in parenthesis. Sine is the trigonometric function that is equal to the ratio of the side opposite a given angle (θ) to the hypotenuse. Cosine is the ratio of the side adjacent to θ to the hypotenuse. Tangent is the ratio of the opposite side from the given angle to the adjacent side. These functions are used in order to calculate unknown angles or distances from some known and/or measured aspects in a geometric figure.

BRIEF HISTORY Trigonometry began as a method born from necessity to model the motions of galactic objects in mathematical astronomy. In order to predict their movements with geometric accuracy Hipparchus began the development of mathematical tools which would allow astronomers to convert arc lengths to distance measurements. Many contribute Hipparchus as the father of trigonometry. He was the first to construct a table of values of a trigonometric function and created the notion that all triangles as being inscribed into a circle

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