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> I did a math course through the UK’s Open University and the text book taught trigonometry through explaining the unit circle. It made me so happy to finally
by Kon-Peki 4y ago
> I did a math course through the UK’s Open University and the text book taught trigonometry through explaining the unit circle. It made me so happy to finally understand
It also has a downside... The British Empire depended on robust trigonometrical education. In those days, you couldn't efficiently navigate the world's oceans without it and they needed a steady supply of ship's masters for the thousands of ships that made the empire work. Earth is the unit circle.
- joshuaissac 4y ago> It also has a downside What exactly is the downside and for whom? > The British Empire depended on robust trigonometrical education [...] and they needed a steady supply of ship's masters The British Empire was already collapsing rapidly when the Open University was founded in 1969. I doubt that ensuring a supply of ship masters was a motivation in choosing to include trigonometry in the syllabus.
- Kon-Peki 4y agoSure, if you want to believe that Open University invented a brand new pedagogy rather than continuing a traditional style of teaching trigonometry that had been honed over the course of 150 years of naval power projection.