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Glite Dictionary
circular function

circular function

7.9
A function like sine or cosine that gives the ratio of two sides in a right triangle for an angle
  • noun
  • /ˈsɜrkjələr ˈfʌŋkʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : función circular
  • The sine, cosine, and tangent are each a type of circular function used in trigonometry.

Examples

  • Understanding a circular function is essential for solving many problems involving right triangles.

  • Students learn how to graph each circular function when studying circular motion.

  • A circular function is important.

  • What is a circular function?

  • In trigonometry, students learn how to calculate the values of a circular function related to angles in a right triangle.

  • The cosine and sine are examples of circular functions that represent the ratios of sides of a right triangle.

  • To solve right triangle problems, it is important to understand how to use a circular function to find missing angles.

Synonyms

trigonometric function
vscircular function
  • Specialized
6.8

A rule that gives numbers for angles using two side lengths in a right triangle, like sine or cosine

focuses on defining those by triangle side proportions in a right angle

Surface Forms

circular function singular
circular functions plural

Morphology

circular + function

The phrase literally combines 'circular' (related to a circle) and 'function' (a mathematical mapping), so a learner can infer it denotes a function connected to circles. However, the precise technical sense—namely the trigonomic/ratio-based meaning (sine, cosine, etc.)—is specialized and not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so it requires prior subject knowledge.

Etymology

The term circular function comes from using a circle to make these math functions. Imagine a point moving around a circle: its up-down distance is the sine and its left-right distance is the cosine, so the name means 'a function based on a circle'.