the tag (ca.classical-analysis-and-odes) seems to me the closest to the topic question - if somebody has a better idea for the tag, please do retag the question
Martin Sleziak
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corrected a few typos
Martin Sleziak
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# Freshman's definition of sin(x)?

I would like to know how you would rigorously introduce the trigonometric funcionsfunctions ($$sin(x)$$$$\sin(x)$$ and relatives) to first year calculus students. Suppose they have a reasonable definition of $$\mathbb{R}$$ (as Cauchy closure of the rationals, or as Dedekind cuts, or whatever), but otherwise require as few concepts as possible.

Some approaches I can think of are:

1. The "geometric way": $$\sin(x)$$ is the ordinate, on the usual unit-radius "trigonometric circle" in the $$xy$$-plane, of the end point of a circle arc of length equal to $$x$$.
2. The "power series way": define $$\sin(x)$$ as $$\Sigma_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^n}{(2n+1)!}x^{2n+1}$$.
3. The "complex exponential way": let $$\exp:\mathbb{C}\rightarrow\mathbb{C}^{*}$$ be the unique homomorphism of groups (blah blah), and define $$\sin(x)$$, $$x$$ real, to be the imaginary part of $$\exp(ix)$$.
4. The "differential equation way": $$\sin(x)$$ is the unique function $$u(x)$$ of class $$\mathcal{C}^{\infty}$$ such that $$u''+u=0$$, $$u(0)=0$$ and $$u'(0)=1$$.

Unfortunately, it seems to me that each of the above approaches has some drawbacks (developing the elementary properties of trigonometric funcions from some of these definitions may be not so straightforward), and need some "non elementary" notions to be introduced, where by "non elementary" here I mean notions involving e.g. the concept of limit or of derivative. One would like the standard functions like $$\sin(x)$$, $$\cos(x)$$ and $$\exp(x)$$ to be already available to the students before introducing limits, derivatives or integrals, let alone power series or differential equations.

Edit (example): when I was a first year student, the reals had been introduced axiomatically (in disguise) as an [but it was implicitely assumed that it was unique] ordered field with the "sup" property; but this is irrelevant: a lot of undergrads see the definition of $$\mathbb{R}$$ via Dedekind cuts [which is the definition is usually given in second or 3rd year of high school]. Then $$\sin(x)$$ was introduced as in 1 (geometric way). Then limits, continuity etc. were introduced (so, it made sense to ask "find the limit of $$\sin(x)$$ as $$x\rightarrow0$$"). My point is that the "geometric" definition 1 is actually cheating, as it already requires limits and differentiation: what is the "arc lenght"length" of the circle otherwise?

Edit: btw, I don't have to teach calculus to anybody now, I just asked myself this question by reading other m.o. questions related to teaching.

Franz Lemmermeyer
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I would like to know how you would rigorously introduce the trigonometric funcions ($$sin(x)$$ and relatives) to first year calculus students. Suppose they have a reasonable definition of $$\mathbb{R}$$ (as CuchyCauchy closure of the rationals, or as Dedekind cuts, or whatever), but otherwise require as few concepts as possible.

Some approaches I can think of are:

1. The "geometric way": $$sin(x)$$$$\sin(x)$$ is the ordinate, on the usual unit-radius "trigonometric circle" in the $$xy$$-plane, of the end point of a circle arc of length equal to $$x$$.
2. The "power series way": define $$sin(x)$$$$\sin(x)$$ as $$\Sigma_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^n}{(2n+1)!}x^{2n+1}$$.
3. The "complex exponential way": let $$exp:\mathbb{C}\rightarrow\mathbb{C}^{*}$$$$\exp:\mathbb{C}\rightarrow\mathbb{C}^{*}$$ be the unique homomorphism of groups (blah blah), and define $$sin(x)$$$$\sin(x)$$, $$x$$ real, to be the imaginary part of $$exp(ix)$$$$\exp(ix)$$.
4. The "differential equation way": $$sin(x)$$$$\sin(x)$$ is the unique function $$u(x)$$ of class $$\mathcal{C}^{\infty}$$ such that $$u''+u=0$$, $$u(0)=0$$ and $$u'(0)=1$$.

Unfortunately, it seems to me that each of the above approaches has some drawbacks (developing the elementary properties of trigonometric funcions from some of these definitions may be not so strightforwardstraightforward), and need some "non elementary" notions to be introduced, where by "non elementary" here I mean notions involving e.g. the concept of limit or of derivative. One would like the standard functions like $$sin(x)$$$$\sin(x)$$, $$cos(x)$$$$\cos(x)$$ and $$exp(x)$$$$\exp(x)$$ to be already available to the students before introducing limits, derivatives or integrals, let alone power series or differential equations.

Edit (example): when I was a first year student, the reals had been introduced axiomatically (in disguise) as an [but it was implicitely assumed that it was unique] ordered field with the "sup" property; but this is irrelevant: a lot of undergrads see the definition of $$\mathbb{R}$$ via Dedekind cuts [which is the definition is usually given in second or 3rd year of high school]. Then $$sin(x)$$$$\sin(x)$$ was introduced as in 1 (geometric way). Then limits, continuity etc. were introduced (so, it made sense to ask "find the limit of $$sin(x)$$$$\sin(x)$$ as $$x\rightarrow0$$"). My point is that the "geometric" definition 1 is actually cheating, as it already requires limits and differentiation: what is the "arc lenght" of the circle otherwise?

Edit: btw, I don't have to teach calculus to anybody now, I just asked myself this question by reading other m.o. questions related to teaching.

Qfwfq
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Qfwfq
• 21.2k
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• 103
• 200