How is sine determined without a calculator?

Chris wrote:  One way is to use something known as the "Taylor Series." ...  I suspect this is what is used in modern calculators.

I used to think this as well, until I read a book called "Inside Your Calculator" by Gerald R. Rising (Wiley, 2007).  Apparently calculators use a system known as CORDIC, an acronym for coordinate rotation digital computer.

Unfortunately, the method is too complicated to explain here in a few words, but you can find some detail at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CORDIC 

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One way is to use something known as the "Taylor Series." This basically generates a polynomial series that can give approximate answers to as much accuracy as required. Angles are evaluated in terms of rads. I suspect this is what is used in modern calculators.

Thanks, Alan, for that info........