Trigonometry History and Development 2

Question 1

Which ancient civilization is credited with creating the first known trigonometric table, the 'Table of Chords'?

Accepted Answer

Greeks

Answer

Hipparchus of Nicaea, a Greek astronomer, compiled the first known table of chords around 150 BCE.

Question 2

The word 'trigonometry' derives from Greek roots meaning 'triangle' and what other concept?

Accepted Answer

Measure

Answer

Trigonometry comes from the Greek words 'trigonon' (triangle) and 'metron' (measure).

Question 3

Which medieval Persian mathematician wrote 'Treatise on the Quadrilateral,' a comprehensive work on spherical trigonometry?

Accepted Answer

Nasir al-Din al-Tusi

Answer

Nasir al-Din al-Tusi wrote this treatise in the 13th century, establishing trigonometry as an independent mathematical discipline.

Question 4

Who introduced the modern notation for trigonometric functions, using abbreviations like 'sin' and 'cos'?

Accepted Answer

Leonhard Euler

Answer

Leonhard Euler standardized the abbreviations sin, cos, tan and other trigonometric notations in the 18th century.

Question 5

The Aryabhatiya, written around 499 CE, introduced which trigonometric concept that differed from Greek chord-based methods?

Accepted Answer

Sine function (half-chord)

Answer

Aryabhata used the half-chord (what we now call sine) instead of the full chord used by Greek mathematicians.

Trigonometry Practice Test