Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The function cos(π/4) represents the trigonometric cosine of the angle π/4 (or 45 degrees). It outputs a value between -1 and 1 that represents the ratio of the length of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse in a right triangle.
Related terms
Trigonometry: Trigonometry is a branch of mathematics that deals with relationships between angles and sides in triangles, especially right triangles.
Sine Function: The sine function (sin(x)) is another trigonometric function that gives us the ratio of the length of the opposite side to the hypotenuse in a right triangle.
Unit Circle: A unit circle is a circle with radius 1 centered at the origin. It helps visualize angles and their corresponding trigonometric functions.