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cotangent Definition

co·tan·gent (kō tan′jənt, kō′tan′-)

noun

Trigonometry the reciprocal of the tangent; specif.

  1. the ratio of the adjacent side of a given acute angle in a right triangle to the opposite side
  2. an equivalent, positive or negative ratio for certain related angles (Ex.: the cotangent of 57° or 237° is .6494, of 123° or 303° is −.6494) or real numbers representing radians (Ex.: the cotangent of .9948 radians (57°) is .6494)

Etymology: ModL cotangens < co. tangens, short for complementi tangens, lit., tangent of the complement

Browse dictionary entries near cotangent

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