| Math Open Reference | Search site > |
| on page | page | Home | Contact | About | Subject index | Word index |
|
|
Tangent
1.Geometry
A line which touches a circle or ellipse at just one point. Below, the blue line is a tangent to the circle c.
Note the radius to the point of tangency is always perpendicular to the tangent line.
2. TrigonometryOne of the trigonometry functions. In a right triangle, the tangent of an angle is the opposite side over the adjacent side. 
Related pagesInteractive demonstration of the graph of the tangent function in trigonometry
Constructing the tangent to a circle at a given point on the circle with compass and straightedge or ruler
How to draw the two possible tangents to a given circle through an external point with compass and straightedge or ruler
Introduction to the 6 trigonometry functions - sine, cosine, tangent, secant, cosecant, cotangent
A memory aid for remembering the definitions of sin, cos, and tan
Definition and properties of a tangent
Definition and properties of the tangent line to an ellipse
Definition of the tangent function as applied to right triangles in trigonometry
(C) 2009 Copyright Math Open Reference. All rights reserved
|
|
For more on this see