The discussion centers on the relevance of subtangent and subnormal lines in modern mathematics. Participants express skepticism about their practical applications, noting that these concepts are considered archaic and largely obsolete since the early 20th century. Instead, they suggest using trigonometric functions such as sine and cosine to describe tangent lines, highlighting a more contemporary approach to understanding these relationships.
PREREQUISITESMathematics students, educators, and anyone interested in the historical development of calculus concepts and their current applications in mathematical analysis.
logan3 said:What would be the point of knowing information about the subtangent and subnormal lines? Do they have any worthwhile real-world applications? Wikipedia says that they are archaic and fell into disuse after the early 20th century.
Thank-you