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Site Last Updated 04/06/2009
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This page will define and explain the trigonometric functions.
The Trigonometric Functions are:
| Name |
Abbreviation |
| sine |
sin |
| cosine |
cos |
| tangent |
tan |
| cotangent |
cot |
| secant |
sec |
| cosecant |
csc |
The function values depend on the measure of the angle.
The functions are defined:
| sine Ω |
= |
(side opposite Ω)/hypotenuse |
| cosine Ω |
= |
(side adjacent Ω)/hypotenuse |
| tangent Ω |
= |
(side opposite Ω)/(side adjacent Ω) |
| cotangent Ω |
= |
(side adjacent Ω)/(side opposite Ω) |
| secant Ω |
= |
hypotenuse/(side adjacent Ω) |
| cosecant Ω |
= |
hypotenuse/(side opposite Ω) |
Where Ω is an acute angle (an angle < 90°): θ or ß on the figure below.
Example:
| sine θ |
= |
y/h |
sine ß |
= |
x/h |
| cosine θ |
= |
x/h |
cosine ß |
= |
y/h |
| tangent θ |
= |
y/x |
tangent ß |
= |
x/y |
| cotangent θ |
= |
x/y |
cotangent ß |
= |
y/x |
| secant θ |
= |
h/x |
secant ß |
= |
h/y |
| cosecant θ |
= |
h/y |
cosecant ß |
= |
h/x |
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