From what i understand, one argument for a flat universe is the fact that the sum of the angles of a cosmic triangle is more or less equal to 180 degrees. What i don’t understand is how we calculate the angles. Most of what I’ve read online state that since we can measure the 3 sides of the cosmic triangle, we can use trigonometry to calculate the angles. But doesn’t the fact that we are using trigonometry to calculate the angles already presume the universe is flat rather than proofs it?
In: Planetary Science
Trigonometry works in other geometries than flat. So no the fact that you use trigonometry doesnt mean you presume the universe is flat. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generalized_trigonometry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generalized_trigonometry)
But even if it would presume the universe is flat and trigonometry would only work in a flat space the fact that it works would also be prove that the universe is flat (to the degree that we can measure it). This would be a prove by contradiction.
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