The Roots of Trigonometry

       What do you think of when you hear the name Hipparchus?  Historically Hipparchus has been credited with making fundamental contributions to the foundations of trigonometry (circa ~127BC). In a shocking turn of events, some researchers are saying that the Babylonians invented trigonometry. A long-debated tablet known as Plimpton 332 is the subject of a new study in the journal Historia Mathematica.  The Plimpton 322 might well be from the period 1822–1784 BC. A team of modern mathematicians claim that new analysis proves that this relic is the oldest ever example of trigonometry.  Hipparchus who is known as the father of trig, was not born until 1,000 years later. This Greek genius may not be the father of trig, after all. 

     The results of the new study are far from conclusive. But they are plenty fascinating. A treasure-trove of Babylonian tablets exists, but only a fraction of them have been studied yet. This ancient but very sophisticated mathematical culture of Babylon has much to teach us. Some experts maintain that other texts make it clear the Babylonians didn't have such an advanced understanding of math. Others allow that it's possible there was some serious trigonometry going on in Babylon. For now, these findings don't carry enough evidence to be more than an interesting—and not completely far-fetched—story. To draw conclusions this big about the history of math (and Babylonian construction methods, for that matter) we're going to need a lot more tablets.