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How accurate was Bhaskara I’s approximation for the sine function?
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Indian mathematics
The evolution of Hindu-Arabic numerals from Brahmi through Devanagari and Arabic to European scripts.
Bhaskara I, an Indian astronomer and mathematician, is noted for including a remarkably accurate approximation for the sine function in his astronomical treatises.1
In modern notation, his formula is expressed as:
where is measured in degrees. This formula provided a highly effective way to calculate sine values, reflecting the sophisticated mathematical contributions of Indian scholars who helped disseminate and refine the work of Aryabhata.1