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secant

secant

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

secant in mathematics. 1 In geometry, a secant is a straight line cutting a curve or surface. If it intersects the curve in two different points, as in the secant of a circle , the segment of the secant between the points is called a chord. The limiting position of a secant, if such a limit exists, is called the tangent to the curve or surface at that point. 2 A trigonometric function. See trigonometry .

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secant

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

se·cant / ˈsēˌkant; -kənt/ • n. 1. (abbr.: sec) Math. the ratio of the hypotenuse to the shorter side adjacent to an acute angle (in a right-angled triangle); the reciprocal of a cosine. 2. Geom. a straight line that cuts a curve in two or more parts.

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"secant." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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secant

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

secant In trigonometry, ratio of the length of the hypotenuse to the length of the side adjacent to an acute angle in a right-angled triangle. The secant of angle A is usually abbreviated to sec A, and is equal to the reciprocal of its cosine.
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secant

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

secant in full s. line. XVI. — F. sécant adj., sécante sb. — modL. use of L. secāns, -ant-, prp. of secāre cut; see SECTION, -ANT.
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T. F. HOAD. "secant." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "secant." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-secant.html

T. F. HOAD. "secant." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-secant.html

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