Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
cos
Mathematical Function
/kɒs/
Definition
The cosine function, often abbreviated as ‘cos’, is a trigonometric function that relates the angle of a triangle to the lengths of its sides.
Examples
- The cos of 0 degrees is 1.
- To find the length of the adjacent side, use the formula: adjacent = hypotenuse * cos(angle).
- In a unit circle, cos(θ) gives the x-coordinate of the point at angle θ.
Meaning
In a right triangle, the cosine of an angle is defined as the ratio of the length of the adjacent side to the length of the hypotenuse.
Synonyms
- Cosine
- Trigonometric ratio
