What Are Cosecant, Secant, and Cotangent, and How Are They Connected to Sine, Cosine, and Tangent?

Understanding cosecant, secant, and cotangent might seem tough at first. But don’t worry! Let’s break it down together.

• Cosecant ($\csc$) means the opposite of sine. So, if you want to find cosecant, you take 1 and divide it by sine. We can write it like this: $\csc(\theta) = \frac{1}{\sin(\theta)}$.

• Secant ($\sec$) works the same way for cosine. To find secant, take 1 and divide it by cosine: $\sec(\theta) = \frac{1}{\cos(\theta)}$.

• Cotangent ($\cot$) is the opposite of tangent. To get cotangent, take 1 and divide it by tangent: $\cot(\theta) = \frac{1}{\tan(\theta)}$.

These functions might seem scary, but the more you practice, the easier they will get.

Just remember their definitions, and how they relate to sine, cosine, and tangent. With enough practice, you’ll start to feel more comfortable!