La navegación y las matemáticas: laso indisoluble

Abstract

This work highlights the importance of mathematical knowledge in a daily activity for human beings. Mathematics has been decisive in the development of navigation, especially in the application of the position triangle and orthodromics. The position triangle, based on spherical trigonometry, allows location to be determined through astronomical observations, converting celestial measurements into terrestrial coordinates. On the other hand, orthodromics, based on spherical geometry, calculates the shortest route between two points on the Earth's surface, optimizing distances on long-scale trips. These mathematical concepts have transformed navigation from an intuitive art to an exact science. The position triangle facilitated navigation independent of land references, while the great circle significantly improved efficiency on sea and air routes. The application of these techniques not only increased navigation accuracy and safety, but also laid the foundation for modern navigation systems, including GPS and route planning software. The influence of mathematics on these methods highlights how abstract principles can solve complex practical problems, precisely demonstrating the power of mathematics in understanding and mastering global navigation.