Calculations of values of trigonometric functions

Abstract

This article is devoted to the historically most important methods of computing tables of trigonometric functions and of their predecessor - the chord. We focus on the calculations of Ptolemy, Āryabhaṭa, and on the estimates of Arabian scholars Abū'l-Wafā' and al-Kāshī.

We also mention huge tables of Rhaeticus and the calculations of Copernicus. At the end we present the algorithm CORDIC.

Keywords

• trigonometric functions
• Ptolemy
• chord
• al-Kāshī
• Copernicus
• CORDIC