arctangent

9.9

The angle whose tangent is a given number

noun
/ˈɑrkˌtænʤənt/

Specialized

: arcotangente

In trigonometry, the arctangent function helps determine the angle based on the tangent value.

That example if you have, if you have Y equals the arctangent of X.

Examples

Using a calculator, you can easily compute the arctangent of a number to find the corresponding angle.
We're going to get the arctangent of X.
So the way this works is you have you have the arctangent it's a function and it does something to this and gives you this, right?
To find the angle whose tangent is 1, we calculate the arctangent of 1.

Synonyms

arc tangent

vsarctangent

Specialized

1 7.9

The angle whose tangent equals a given number

is the single word form rather than the two word spelling

inverse tangent

vsarctangent

Specialized

1 6.5

A math function that gives the angle whose tangent equals a number

is the specific technical name used as a single word

arctan

vsarctangent

Specialized

9.3

An angle whose tangent equals a given number

is the full word form rather than the abbreviation

Surface Forms

arctangent singular

arctangents plural

Morphology

arctangent = tangent (semi-transparent) = arc + tangent

Formed by the mathematical naming convention 'arc-' + 'tangent' to indicate the inverse tangent; the construction is systematic in math but may be unfamiliar to general B1 learners.

Etymology

Arctangent combines arc (meaning 'curve') and tangent (from a root meaning 'to touch'). Think of a tangent as a line that 'touches' a curve: the arctangent gives the angle whose tangent is a given number, so it is the inverse of the tangent function.