cotangent

noun

co·tan·gent | \ (ˌ)kō-ˈtan-jənt

How to pronounce cotangent (audio)

, ˈkō-ˌtan-\

Definition of cotangent

1 : a trigonometric function that for an acute angle is the ratio between the leg adjacent to the angle when it is considered part of a right triangle and the leg opposite

2 : a trigonometric function cot θ that is equal to the cosine divided by the sine for all real numbers θ for which the sine is not equal to zero and is exactly equal to the cotangent of an angle of measure θ in radians

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The first known use of cotangent was in 1635

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