Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
The cosine function (cos) is a mathematical function that relates an angle within a right triangle to the ratio between the length of the adjacent side and hypotenuse. It is commonly used in physics to determine component vectors.