trigonometric function

noun

, Mathematics.

1. Also called circular function. a function of an angle, as sine or cosine, expressed as the ratio of the sides of a right triangle.
2. any function involving only trigonometric functions and constants.
3. the generalization of these to functions of real or complex numbers.

trigonometric function

noun

1. Also calledcircular function any of a group of functions of an angle expressed as a ratio of two of the sides of a right-angled triangle containing the angle. The group includes sine, cosine, tangent, secant, cosecant, and cotangent
2. any function containing only sines, cosines, etc, and constants

trigonometric function

/ trĭg′ə-nə-mĕt′rĭk /

1. A function of an angle, as the sine, cosine, or tangent, whose value is expressed as a ratio of two of the sides of the right triangle that contains the angle.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trigonometric function¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

“A lot of the basic trig ‘identities’ are nothing more than Pythagoras’ theorem,” explains Anderson, referring to equations that describe relationships among different trigonometric functions.

From Scientific American

The mnemonic SO-CAH-TOA is commonly used to teach trigonometric functions sine, cosine and tangent.

From Washington Times

The Los Angeles Times reported that the teacher was in math class and the video showed her "chanting a mnemonic device—"Sohcahtoa," often used in math courses to remember trigonometric functions."

From Fox News

“That last trigonometric function wasn’t as easy as it looked.”

From Literature

To do so, he broke the temperature profile down into trigonometric functions, as if it were a sound wave.

From Nature