Definition
cotan
noun
- The reciprocal of the tangent of an angle; the ratio of the adjacent side to the opposite side in a right triangle.
Usage: mathematics; trigonometry; abbreviation: cot
Examples
- The cotan of 45 degrees equals 1.
- In trigonometry, cotan is the reciprocal of the tangent function.
- To find the cotan of an angle, divide the adjacent side by the opposite side.
- The cotan function is useful in solving right triangle problems.
- Students learn about sine, cosine, and cotan in precalculus.