Trigonometric functions are indispensable for the realization of the geometrical plans on screen or printer or other digital calculation. To optimize the calculation times, anything of such as to work with integers rather than floating numbers especially when we want to use a processor in the moderate price.

A solution is to use BAM notation ( Binary Angular Measure). We choose then to reduce the representation of an angle with a 16 bits signed integer by considering:

• 0 zero angle,
• +/-16384 for +/-PI/2,
• +/-32768 for +/-PI.

In the same way, we can set by agreement to represent values +/-1 by +/-32768 to have the best possible precision in integer calculation.

Now we have defined the rules of input and output parameters in integer trigonometric functions, it is necessary to determine the most performant possible algorithm. I chose the principle of the estimate by line segments.

Sine function, for example, can be approached in 3e-5 with 128 segments on a quarter of period (0 to PI/2) to compare with 1/32768=3e-5 for the representation of the value 1 in our case. For values different from the quarter of period previous, it is enough to apply the following formulae and so to come down to it:

• sin(-x) = -sin(x),
• if x>(PI/2) alors then sin(x) = sin((PI/2)-x).

The modulo +/PI modulo is automatic knowing that calculation is realized on signed 16 bits (least significant bits for a 32 bits number). The table allows to calculate value with only a multiplication and a division to give value approached in a line segment between 2 angles.

Cosine functione deducts of the sine function by applying the formula:

• cos(x) = sin(x+(PI/2)),

which is corresponding to the following FORTH sequence:

16384 + SIN

Arc-sine function could be built on the same principle as the sine function but with the inconvenience of an important difference towards the knowing value 1 that the ramp of the approached line side aims towards the infinity.

I propose a solution which allows to get back the table of the sine function by reaching it by the contents. It is enough then to determine the line segment between 2 angles from the sine table and the most significant bits of the input angle (algorithm with successive estimate). There is only to calculate value approached with a multiplication and a division.

Arc-cosine functione deducts of the arc-sine function by applying the formula:

• acos(x) = (PI/2)-asin(x),

wich is corresponding to the following FORTH sequence:

ASIN NEGATE 16384 +

For the arc-tangent, the problem is to calculate this value on some values taken altogether real numbers. Solution adopted here is to pass on this value by 2 integers (n and m) corresponding in a fraction and to calculate so the arc-tangent of n/m. It is necessary also to reduce calculation in values included among 0 and PI/2 by using the following formulae:

• atan(-x) = -atan(x),
• atan(x)+atan(1/x) = (PI/2).

The second formula is particularly interesting because i is going to allow to define a table limited to values included between 0 to 1 (0 to 32768 here). It will be enough then to determine the biggest absolute value enters n and m to come down to the calculation of the arc-tangent of a lower positive number or equal to 1.

These some principles allow me to obtain results more than sufficient for the most part of graphic applications.