Mathematics & Computer Science
Trigonometry and sine tables (jya)
499 CEAryabhataAryabhatiyaPan-Indian / unspecified
499 CE
Introduced the sine ('jya') function and tabulated sine values; forerunner of modern trigonometry.
- Dated
- 499 CE
- As scholars put it
- 499 CE
- Originator
- Aryabhata
- Source text
- Aryabhatiya
- Region
- Pan-Indian / unspecified
- Discipline
- Mathematics & Computer Science
- Evidence
- Documented
- Confidence
- High
- Verification
- Verified-web
Meanwhile in the West
Passed to Islamic astronomers, then Europe; 'sine' derives via mistranslation of 'jya'.
Fair to say
Greek chord-based trigonometry existed; the half-chord (sine) approach is Indian.
Path to modern innovation
Trigonometry is essential to navigation, physics, signal processing.
499 CETrigonometry and sine tables (jya)
1530Transmission
jya -> jiba -> (mis-read) jaib (Latin 'sinus') -> 'sine'.
Primary sources
- 4The Aryabhatiya Of AryabhataUnreviewed
- 5Aryabhatiya of Aryabhata: 3 volumesUnreviewed
References
- 1Aryabhatiya
- 2Plofker (2009)
Further reading
Corrections and additional sources: edit IND-010 on GitHub.