acute angle |
An angle that measures more than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees. A reference angle is an acute angle in a right triangle. |
adjacent side |
The side next to the reference angle in a right triangle. The adjacent side is not the hypotenuse. |
cosecant |
CSC. A trigonometric ratio equal to the hypotenuse over the length of the opposite side. The cosecant ratio is the reverse of the sine ratio. |
cosine |
COS. The ratio of the length of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse of the triangle. A cosine is a trigonometric function. |
cosine |
COS. The ratio of the length of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse of the triangle. A cosine is a trigonometric ratio. |
cotangent |
COT. A trigonometric ratio equal to the adjacent side over the length of the opposite side. The cotangent ratio is the reverse of the tangent ratio. |
cylindrical |
A three-dimensional shape that has a circular base and top connected by walls. Cylindrical parts may have parallel or tapered walls. |
hypotenuse |
The longest side of a right triangle. The hypotenuse is always opposite the 90 degree angle. |
included angle |
For a taper, this is the entire angle that contains the taper. The legs of the included angle are formed by each edge of the taper. |
included angle |
The entire angle that contains the taper. Each edge of the taper forms a leg of the angle. |
interior angles |
The angles located within a closed figure. A triangle has three interior angles. |
inverse operation |
An operation that counteracts or undoes another. The inverse tangent is used to find missing angles. |
opposite side |
The side across from the reference angle in a right triangle. Knowing the measurement of the opposite side helps when solving for other missing dimensions. |
part drawing |
A document that includes the specifications for a part's production. Using a right triangle in a part drawing can help to solve for unknown dimensions. |
reference angle |
A known angle used to label the sides of a right triangle. The reference angle cannot be the triangle's right angle. |
right angle |
An angle formed by two lines that are perpendicular to one another and measures exactly 90 degrees. A right triangle is characterized by its single right angle. |
right triangle |
A triangle containing exactly one 90° angle. The other two angles must total exactly 90 degrees. |
rounding |
A method used to shorten numbers. Rounding involves either increasing or decreasing a number to the next digit. |
secant |
SEC. A trigonometric ratio equal to the length of the hypotenuse over the length of the adjacent side. The secant ratio is the reverse of the cosine ratio. |
sine |
SIN. The ratio of the length of the opposite side to the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle. Sine is a trigonometric function. |
sine |
SIN. The ratio of the length of the opposite side to the length of the hypotenuse of the triangle. A sine is a trigonometric function. |
SOHCAHTOA |
An acronym used to remember trigonometric ratios. Sine is Opposite over Hypotenuse, Cosine is Adjacent over Hypotenuse, and Tangent is Opposite over Adjacent. |
symmetrical |
A quality in which all the features on either side of a point, line, plane, or blueprint are identical. Both sides of a symmetrical part have the same dimensions. |
symmetrical |
A shape that is able to be divided into two equal halves, with identical features in both halves. Symmetrical objects have sides that appear as mirror images of each other. |
tangent |
TAN. The ratio of the length of the opposite side to the length of the adjacent side. A tangent is a trigonometric function. |
taper |
A gradual decrease in diameter from one end of an object to another. Taper dimensions can be found using trigonometry. |
taper per foot |
TPF. The difference in the size of a part from large to small diameter. Taper per foot is usually expressed as a ratio and is calculated in inches per foot. |
trigonometric ratios |
A ratio that describes a relationship between a side and an angle of a right triangle. Trigonometric ratios include sine, cosine, and tangent. |