To explore how trigonometry became such a powerful mathematical tool, students in Liberal Arts and Mathematics stepped back in time to consider one of history’s greatest engineering achievements: the construction of the Great Wall of China. Faced with vast distances, steep gradients and the need for accuracy, ancient builders relied on careful measurement of angles and lengths, laying foundations for the trigonometry we study today.

To bring this to life, students created their own clinometers and headed outside to estimate the height of the main St Michael Abbey School building. By measuring the angle of elevation and calculating the horizontal distance from its base, they gathered the data needed to apply their classroom learning to a real-world problem.

Back in the classroom, Arthur in Year 10 confidently modelled the trigonometric calculations for Year 9, demonstrating how to use tangent ratios to determine the building’s height. The final estimate came to 15.1 metres, impressively close to the value recorded by a digital measuring app.

The activity not only strengthened mathematical understanding, but also highlighted how practical challenges throughout history have driven innovation. By connecting ancient engineering with modern problem-solving, students saw first-hand how mathematics continues to shape the world around us.