How Trigonometric Functions Are Computed By Computer

January 17th, 2008 | by limeehai |

We have been doing maths and dealing with trigonometric functions.

Computing “sin  45.61″  is as simple as pressing the calculator or computer.

The answer is instantaneous.

But then how does the computer computes this “sine” function?

It is in text!

Thanks to past mathematicians and their ideas / research, trigonometric functions can be expressed in another form.

sin x = x - x3/3! + x5/5! - x7/7! + ……,     and

cos x = 1 - x2/2! + x4/4! - x6/6! + …..

The computer (or calculator) therefore captures the numerical value of “x” and does the mathematical manipulation using the above expressions to get to the answer.

It is just the application of the 4 basic core maths operation (+, -, /, x) that does the trick!

  1. 4 Responses to “How Trigonometric Functions Are Computed By Computer”

  2. By Space of Reality on Jan 18, 2008 | Reply

    Honestly, I don’t like Math because I think it is complicated :( I used to think why there is a Math subject and why we study them. But as I grow older, I begun to learn that Math is part of our life, just like food :D How I wished I studied Math seriously before…

    Hye

  3. By limeehai on Jan 19, 2008 | Reply

    Hi Hye,
    You are correct to say math is part of our life. Math is a tool for us to use to simplify life. Without it, I dare not imagine how the world will be. On the positive side, math is our friend. Most people who hate math normally grow to realise that it is important. Nice to know that you are looking at the brighter side of math now. Cheers!

  4. By Rebecca on Jan 21, 2008 | Reply

    Thanks for your comment at valley girl musings on the rose color. Have you checked out this cool blog, http://jacpi.blogspot.com

  5. By Julia Borsos on Jan 21, 2008 | Reply

    Hi,
    I think this website is very useful and quite easy to understand - may I suggest using image diagrams sometimes? (not for this particular post)

    I was wondering if you’d like to link to my site - I’ve linked to yours as I think it fits in well with my blog, which stresses the importance of education and seizing opportunities.

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