From “Circle-ometry” to Trigonometry: Exploring the Story of Trigonometry and Why the Curriculum Does it Backwards

Tuesday, May 5 at 6:30 pm EDT (New York)

MoMath is delighted to welcome global educator and math popularizer Dr. James Tanton to a program for math educators (and others!) who want to explore an interesting mathematical story.  The study of similar right triangles goes back millennia — how exactly did Thales of Ionia deduce the height of the Great Pyramid ca 600 BCE, anyway?  But the name "trigonometry" was not coined until the year 1595, late in the history of mathematics.  The story of trigonometry is really one of circles, and it is an extraordinarily human story.  Why is the "sine" of an angle called the "twisty bit" of the angle?  Let's find out!  Walk through the wonderful and natural tale of "circle-ometry” see how it enhances — and eases — today's traditional curriculum.