Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
arc cosine

arc cosine

8.8
To find the angle whose cosine equals a given number
  • noun
  • /ɑrk ˈkoʊsaɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : arco coseno
  • To find the angle, you need to calculate the arc cosine of the cosine value.

Examples

  • The calculator has a function to compute the arc cosine when provided with a cosine number.

  • In trigonometry, the arc cosine function helps determine angles from known cosine values.

  • And may I just write down what's the derivative of the arc cosine as long as we're at it and then I'm done The derivative of the arc cosine.

Synonyms

arccosine
vsarc cosine
  • Specialized
9.9

A function that gives the angle whose cosine equals a given number

is the same function but written as two words
arccos
vsarc cosine
  • Specialized
9.9

An angle whose cosine equals a given number

is the same function but written in full words
inverse cosine
vsarc cosine
  • Specialized
8.1

An angle that has a given cosine value

is the same function but usually referred to using full words rather than symbols

Surface Forms

arc cosine singular
arc cosines plural

Morphology

arc + cosine

This is a technical mathematical term where the everyday noun 'arc' (a curved shape) does not transparently signal 'inverse' to a B1 learner, so knowing 'arc' + 'cosine' would not normally let them infer 'the inverse function of the cosine'. However, within mathematical usage 'arc-' conventionally marks inverse trig functions (arccos) and relates to the angle corresponding to a curve, so there is a domain-specific, partially predictable connection.

Etymology

Arc cosine comes from geometry: arc means a part of a circle and cosine is the number you get from an angle. So arc cosine finds the 'angle' or arc that has that cosine.