inverse secant

9.9

An angle whose cosine equals 1 divided by a given number

noun
/ˈɪnvɜrs sɪˈkænt/

Specialized

: secante inversa

In trigonometry, the inverse secant gives the angle corresponding to a specified secant ratio.

Examples

So to get Theta, we'll take arc secant or the inverse secant function of both sides.
Then our next step here for this first term, secant and the inverse secant function cancel one another.
To find the angle, calculate the inverse secant of the value obtained from the secant function.
The inverse secant function helps determine the angle when the secant value is known.

Synonyms

arcsec

vsinverse secant

Specialized

9.9

An angle that has a given secant value

has identical meaning but uses a more descriptive two-word form

arcsecant

vsinverse secant

Specialized

9.9

The angle whose secant is a given number

has identical meaning but often appears as a shorter contracted form

arc secant

vsinverse secant

Specialized

9.9

An angle whose secant or 1 divided by its cosine equals a given number

has identical meaning but appears as a different short or single-word form

Surface Forms

inverse secant singular

inverse secants plural

Morphology

inverse + secant

The meaning is directly compositional: 'inverse' (opposite/reversed or inverse function) applied to the known trig function 'secant' yields the inverse function of secant (arcsecant). This follows the regular pattern of inverse trig names (inverse sine, inverse cosine) and would be predictable to a learner who already knows both constituent words.

Etymology

Inverse secant comes from the word secant, which may come from Latin meaning 'to cut' because a secant is a line that cuts a circle. So inverse secant is the math function that asks 'what angle' has a given secant value, meaning it finds the angle when you know the secant number.