From: J.R. Willett
To: db [-at-] spu.edu
Subject: regarding sine and cosine
Date: Monday, October 05, 1998 3:25 PM
Dr. Brooks,
On page 52 of our calculus text, there is a footnote explaining the evolution of the mathematical term "sine". It says that "sine" is derived from the Latin word "sinus", a word that is translated literally into English as bosom or curve. In the interest of keeping the most accurate translation of this word, I would like to suggest that instead of using the words sine and cosine in calculus this quarter, we say bosom and co-bosom (abbreviated bsm and cob when written). Not only would this be a closer meaning to the original Latin, but it would have the added benefit of adding levity to the class, as people are apt to snicker when words like bosom are used in describing mathematical equations. At first this might seem disruptive, but once people are used to it they won't laugh when they hear it used. And who knows - perhaps we will start a trend that will change mathematics forever. And you would be the man whose name goes down in the history books as the man who did it.
Respectfully,
J.R. Willett