(RT) What is it? - Emendo-Ex
... quadrance distance
spread sin angle
The actual definitions of quadrance and spread in RT are independent of
distance, angle, and their trigonometric functions and are based on
finite arithmetic and algebra
Spread is a dimensionless number between 0 and 1. The spread
between parallel li ...
Rational trigonometry
Rational trigonometry is a proposed reformulation of metrical planar and solid geometries (which includes trigonometry) by Canadian mathematician Norman J. Wildberger, currently an associate professor of mathematics at the University of New South Wales. His ideas are set out in his 2005 book Divine Proportions: Rational Trigonometry to Universal Geometry. According to New Scientist, part of his motivation for an alternative to traditional trigonometry was to avoid some problems that occur when infinite series are used in mathematics. Rational trigonometry avoids direct use of transcendental functions like sine and cosine by substituting their squared equivalents. Wildberger draws inspiration from mathematicians predating Georg Cantor's infinite set-theory, like Gauss and Euclid, who he claims were far more wary of using infinite sets than modern mathematicians. To date, rational trigonometry is largely unmentioned in mainstream mathematical literature.