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C
Elliptic Integrals
Elliptic kernel, elliptic modulus, elliptic functions, and elliptic integrals. Differential equations
of elliptic functions. Sinus amplitudinis, cosinus amplitudinis, and delta amplitudinis.
We experience elliptic integrals when we are trying to compute the length of a meridian arc or
the length of a geodesic of an ellipsoid-of-revolution. Here, we begin with an interesting example
from circular trigonometry, which is leading us to the notion of elliptic integrals of the first kind
as well as elliptic functions .
C-1 Introductory Example
Example C.1 (Elliptic functions).
u =
u := F ( u ):= x
0
1
1 −x 2 ,
d x
u := arcsin x ⇒
1
x 2 =arcsin x.
(C.1)
u 2 =
1
1 −x 2 ,
End of Example.
C-2 Elliptic Kernel, Elliptic Modulus, Elliptic Functions, Elliptic
Integrals
Such a well-known formula from circul ar trig onometry expresses the inverse function of sin x as
an integral. The integral kernel is 1 / 1
x 2 . As soon as we switch to elliptic trigonometry, the
following “elliptic kernel” appears:
 
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