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Re: Slocum's lunars / Chauvenet
From: Frank Reed CT
Date: 2003 Dec 23, 17:16 EST
From: Frank Reed CT
Date: 2003 Dec 23, 17:16 EST
Jan, you wrote:
"But you must accept that the differentiation between "rigorous" and "approximative" methods was accepted in the 19th century to the intent that rigorous methods worked with equations for both apparent and true lunar triangles coinciding at zenith, while approximative methods used calculus for obtaining the small differences between the apparent and true lunar distance while omitting higher members of polynoms gained. "
This is mostly a question of educating newcomers. Although the distinction rigorous vs. approximative may have a long history, if we want to explain the matter to new students, the old terminology might not be the best choice --at least not without clarification. In my opinion, the old terminology creates a mistaken impression. "Rigorous" sounds better than "approximate" to just about anyone despite the fact that they yield indistinguishable results in nearly every case.
Frank E. Reed
[X] Mystic, Connecticut
[ ] Chicago, Illinois
"But you must accept that the differentiation between "rigorous" and "approximative" methods was accepted in the 19th century to the intent that rigorous methods worked with equations for both apparent and true lunar triangles coinciding at zenith, while approximative methods used calculus for obtaining the small differences between the apparent and true lunar distance while omitting higher members of polynoms gained. "
This is mostly a question of educating newcomers. Although the distinction rigorous vs. approximative may have a long history, if we want to explain the matter to new students, the old terminology might not be the best choice --at least not without clarification. In my opinion, the old terminology creates a mistaken impression. "Rigorous" sounds better than "approximate" to just about anyone despite the fact that they yield indistinguishable results in nearly every case.
Frank E. Reed
[X] Mystic, Connecticut
[ ] Chicago, Illinois