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Trigonometry in computer science

Submitted by: @import:stackexchange-cs··
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sciencetrigonometrycomputer

Problem

What's the use of studying trigonometry in computer science? I mean, is it essential? Does it have a specific application in computer science? Because I can't seem to muster enough motivation for learning it.

Solution

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Rotations: that arise in Computer Graphics and Robotics , through rotation matrices, Quaternions, etc.

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Cordics for computing these functions on a Microprocessor / FPGA

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Transforms in Image Compression and elsewhere , e.g. FFT computation in $O(n \log n)$ time

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Anything to do with the interface between CS and Signal Processing

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Pretty much anywhere in navigation and tracking, e.g. anything involving a GPS, IMU,etc.

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Somewhat indirectly in Computational Geometry (CG), in its application like in coverage & localization in wireless sensor networks.

.. to name a few! So if you want to really avoid trig functions, you should learn CG :-)

Context

StackExchange Computer Science Q#6327, answer score: 13

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