Excerpt from Solution of Triangles: A Treatise on the Use of Formulas and the Practical Application of Trigonometry and Logarithms in the Solution of Shop Problems Involving Right-Angled and Oblique-Angled TrianglesIn mathematical and mechanical books and treatises, as well as in articles containing calculations published in the engineering journals, formulas are used to a great extent instead of rules. In these formulas, signs and symbols are used in order to. Condense into a small space the essentials of what would otherwise be long and cumbersome rules. The symbols used are generally the letters in the alphabet, and the signs are simply the ordinary signs for arithmetical calculations, with some additional ones necessary for special purposes. Letters from the Greek alphabet are commonly used to designate angles, and the Greek letter 1 (pi) is always used to indicate the proportion of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, 1r, therefore, is always, in formulas, equal to The' most commonly used Greek letters, be sides 1, are a (alpha), 3 (beta), and 1 (gamma).Knowledge of algebra is not necessary in order to make possible the successful use of formulas for the solving of problems such as occur in the solution of triangles, but a thorough understanding of the rules and processes of arithmetic is very essential. The symbols or letters used in the formulas simply stand in place of the actual figures or numerical values which are inserted in the formula in each specific case, according to the requirements of the problem to be solved. When these values are inserted, the result required may be obtained by sim ple arithmetical processes.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.