The History of Trigonometry

By will.swanson
  • 3100 BCE

    Counting and Measuring Invented

    The Ancient Civilization of Sumer first counted and measure things.
  • 2600 BCE

    Multiplication and Division Invented

    The Sumerians invented Multiplication and Divison.
  • 1800 BCE

    Fractions, Algebra, and Equations Invented

    The Babylonian Excavations found clay tablets with fractions and equations on them.
  • 1200 BCE

    Decimals Invented

    The Chinese were the first to use decimals
  • 1200 BCE

    Exponents Invented

    The Indians first used exponents.
  • 650 BCE

    Square Roots Invented

    The Chinese were the first to use Square Roots.
  • 624 BCE

    Similar and Right Triangles Invented

    Early developments in geometry, including work on similar and right triangles are invented by a Greek Mathematician, Thales. These were invented to find out things about shadows and the sun.
  • 570 BCE

    Pythagorean Theorem Invented

    the Greek mathematician Pythagoras first invented the Pythagorean Theorem and he is named after it today. It is used in architecture and construction. Primarily, in measuring diagonal that hold up bridges or act as foundations.
  • 190 BCE

    Trigonometry Tables and Charts first Invented

    The Greek Mathmatician Hipparchus developed first detailed trigonometry tables. These tables and trigonometric tables are used in oceanography to measure waves and tides.
  • 90

    Continued to Develop Trigonometry Tables

    Greek Mathematician Ptolemy continued to better everyone's understanding of Trigonometry. The continued to use these in more advanced oceanography.
  • 400

    First Use of Modern Trigonometry (Sine, Cosine, and Tangent)

    The Indians first used modern trigonometry. Modern trigonometry was invented for many reasons. For example, civil engineering, chemistry, architecture, and many more.
  • 1446

    First Trigonometry Book Written

    the Italian, Luca Pacioli, wrote the first book about Trigonometry. It contained things like sine, cosine, tangent, and many more topics.

  • Geometric Mean Invented

    German Mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss was the first to use the geometric mean. The geometric mean is particular helpful in calculating statistics, commonly in business and finance.