How Do Calculators Calculate Trigonometric Functions?.

Underwood, Jeremy M.; Edwards, Bruce H.

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ERIC Number: ED461519

Record Type: RIE

Publication Date: 1997

Pages: 9

Abstractor: N/A

ISBN: N/A

ISSN: N/A

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How Do Calculators Calculate Trigonometric Functions?

Underwood, Jeremy M.; Edwards, Bruce H.

How does your calculator quickly produce values of trigonometric functions? You might be surprised to learn that it does not use series or polynomial approximations, but rather the so-called CORDIC method. This paper will focus on the geometry of the CORDIC method, as originally developed by Volder in 1959. This algorithm is a wonderful application of sequences and will be demonstrated on the TI-86 graphing calculator. A rigorous convergence proof for the CORDIC method is also provided. (Author/YDS)

Descriptors: Computer Uses in Education, Graphing Calculators, Higher Education, Mathematics Education, Secondary Education, Trigonometry

Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive

Education Level: N/A

Audience: N/A

Language: English

Sponsor: N/A

Authoring Institution: N/A

Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A

Author Affiliations: N/A

Note: Several pages contain cropped text.