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=Etymology of Sine= |
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:(Note that the "versed sine" is 1–cos(&theta). I'm guessing that ''rectus'' and ''versus'' here refer to what we would now call the ''y'' and ''x'' coordinates, assuming that they originally drew a circle and measured the angle from the horizontal...Boyer doesn't say, however.) [[User:Stevenj|Steven G. Johnson]] 21:55, 25 Mar 2004 (UTC)
:By the way, assuming an etymology of ''sinus'' for sine because of the "curvaceous shape" of the sine (from the other meaning of ''sinus'' for curve, in particular the curved shape of a draped toga or garment) is probably an anachronism. Plots of the sine function ala analytic geometry didn't come until centuries after Chester. On the other hand, Chester may have mistakenly thought that "bay" alluded to the subtended arc; I'm just speculating, though. [[User:Stevenj|Steven G. Johnson]] 22:18, 25 Mar 2004 (UTC)
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