半正矢函數出現於半正矢公式中,其可以据两点的经度和纬度来确定大圆上两点之间距离,且在導航術中被廣泛地使用,因此十九和二十世纪初的导航和三角测量书中包含了半正矢值表和对数表。[34][35][36]1835年,詹姆斯·英曼(英语:James Inman)[13][37][38]在其著作《航海与航海天文学:供英国海员使用》(Navigation and Nautical Astronomy: For the Use of British Seamen)第三版中创造了“半正矢”一词[39]以简化地球表面两点之间的距离计算,應用於球面三角学關於导航的部分。[2]
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Swanson, Todd; Andersen, Janet; Keeley, Robert. 5 (Trigonometric Functions)(PDF). Precalculus: A Study of Functions and Their Applications. Harcourt Brace & Company. 1999: 344 [2015-11-12]. (原始内容存档(PDF)于2003-06-17).
Cajori, Florian. A History of Mathematical Notations2 2 (3rd corrected printing of 1929 issue). Chicago, USA: Open court publishing company. 1952: 172 [March 1929] [2015-11-11]. ISBN 978-1-60206-714-1. 1602067147. The haversine first appears in the tables of logarithmic versines of José de Mendoza y Rios (Madrid, 1801, also 1805, 1809), and later in a treatise on navigation of James Inman (1821). See J. D. White in Nautical Magazine (February and July 1926). (NB. ISBN and link for reprint of 2nd edition by Cosimo, Inc., New York, USA, 2013.)
H. B. Goodwin, The haversine in nautical astronomy, Naval Institute Proceedings, vol. 36, no. 3 (1910), pp. 735–746: Evidently if a Table of Haversines is employed we shall be saved in the first instance the trouble of dividing the sum of the logarithms by two, and in the second place of multiplying the angle taken from the tables by the same number. This is the special advantage of the form of table first introduced by Professor Inman, of the Portsmouth Royal Navy College, nearly a century ago.
White, J. D. (unknown title). Nautical Magazine. February 1926. (NB. According to Cajori, 1929[13], this journal has a discussion on the origin of haversines.)
White, J. D. (unknown title). Nautical Magazine. July 1926. (NB. According to Cajori, 1929[13], this journal has a discussion on the origin of haversines.)
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