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
Cotangent is one of six trigonometric ratios used in right triangles. It represents the ratio between adjacent side length and opposite side length in relation to an acute angle.
Related terms
Trigonometric Ratios: Trigonometric ratios are ratios that relate different sides of a right triangle to its angles.
Sine: Sine is another trigonometric ratio that represents the ratio between opposite side length and hypotenuse length in relation to an acute angle.
Cosine: Cosine is a trigonometric ratio that represents the ratio between adjacent side length and hypotenuse length in relation to an acute angle.