Jun 12, 2007 #1 kontiki99 Electrical Feb 16, 2006 510 Has anybody got a good explanation where the trig terms tangent and secant came from. Are they Arabic in origin?
Has anybody got a good explanation where the trig terms tangent and secant came from. Are they Arabic in origin?
Jun 12, 2007 4 #2 GregLocock Automotive Apr 10, 2001 23,764 tangent - Latin, tangere, to touch secant - Latin secare - to cut That's what Chambers 20th C says, anyway Euler pretty much nailed modern trig terminology in 1748. And you don't argue with Euler. Here's a great diagram, showing why they are named that way http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Circle-trig6.svg and here's wiki's take on history http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_trigonometric_functions Cheers Greg Locock Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips. Upvote 0 Downvote
tangent - Latin, tangere, to touch secant - Latin secare - to cut That's what Chambers 20th C says, anyway Euler pretty much nailed modern trig terminology in 1748. And you don't argue with Euler. Here's a great diagram, showing why they are named that way http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Circle-trig6.svg and here's wiki's take on history http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_trigonometric_functions Cheers Greg Locock Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
Jun 13, 2007 #3 0707 Petroleum Jun 25, 2001 3,426 "Tem gente" in Portuguese means "there are people inside" and it sounds like "tangente" from trig. As an anecdote: One day a proof questions the pupil. What is a "tangente"? The pupil answered."Tangente" is when somebody knocks at the W.C. door and the one who is inside answers "there are people inside... CHEERS LUIS Upvote 0 Downvote
"Tem gente" in Portuguese means "there are people inside" and it sounds like "tangente" from trig. As an anecdote: One day a proof questions the pupil. What is a "tangente"? The pupil answered."Tangente" is when somebody knocks at the W.C. door and the one who is inside answers "there are people inside... CHEERS LUIS
Jun 13, 2007 #4 JAE Structural Jun 27, 2000 15,583 Scene: Hotel in France. The tan gent knocked on the door and demanded, "I need to speak with Michelle right now! Send her out!." Voice from the inside: "Se cant, monsier, Se is not dressed yet!" Upvote 0 Downvote
Scene: Hotel in France. The tan gent knocked on the door and demanded, "I need to speak with Michelle right now! Send her out!." Voice from the inside: "Se cant, monsier, Se is not dressed yet!"
Jun 15, 2007 Thread starter #5 kontiki99 Electrical Feb 16, 2006 510 GregLocock Thanks, I looked in my Oxford English Dictionary, but didn't think of the Wiki. Upvote 0 Downvote
Jul 3, 2007 #6 Skogsgurra Electrical Mar 31, 2003 11,815 Greg, Fantastic! The Wiki is a source of the most amazing facts. I had a faint idea about the history of trigonometry - very faint, compared to what you read in the Wiki articles. Thanks for pointing to it. Did you write it yourself? Gunnar Englund http://www.gke.org-------------------------------------- 100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again... Upvote 0 Downvote
Greg, Fantastic! The Wiki is a source of the most amazing facts. I had a faint idea about the history of trigonometry - very faint, compared to what you read in the Wiki articles. Thanks for pointing to it. Did you write it yourself? Gunnar Englund http://www.gke.org-------------------------------------- 100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again...
Jul 3, 2007 #7 GregLocock Automotive Apr 10, 2001 23,764 No, I didn't write /that/ article. Cheers Greg Locock Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips. Upvote 0 Downvote
No, I didn't write /that/ article. Cheers Greg Locock Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
