Instantaneous velocity and differential of sine (Bhaskara II)
Velocidad instantánea y diferencial del seno (Bhaskara II)
- Date
- 1150 · confidence high
- Place
- Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India
- Credited to
- Bhaskara II
- People
- 👤 Bhaskara II1114–1185
- Field
- Knowledge & symbols
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What was discovered
The Siddhanta Shiromani calculates a planet's instantaneous velocity from the infinitesimal variation of the sine, equivalent to d(sin θ) = cos θ dθ, and observes that this variation vanishes at the maximum. It is a forerunner of ideas from differential calculus.
Some authors see here a precursor of Rolle's theorem; others point out that there is no general concept of the derivative.
What it led to
- astronomy of the Kerala school
- treatment of infinitesimal quantities in India