cosine
Pronunciation
Noun
B2 Upper-intermediate
Quick answer
In a right triangle, the ratio of the length of the side next to a given angle to the length of the hypotenuse.
Usage notes
Remembering SOH CAH TOA is the usual trick for keeping sine, cosine and tangent straight.
Test yourself
Which word fits the gap? "To find the missing side, she multiplied the hypotenuse by the _____ of the known angle."
Answer: cosine
In your own words, what does "cosine" mean?
In a right triangle, the ratio of the length of the side next to a given angle to the length of the hypotenuse.
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