Tangent definition of Tangent in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

tangent, in mathematics.

1 In geometry, the tangent to a circle circle, closed plane curve consisting of all points at a given distance from some fixed point, called the center. A circle is a conic section cut by a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cone.
..... Click the link for more information. or sphere is a straight line that intersects the circle or sphere in one and only one point. For other curves and surfaces the tangent line at a given point P is defined as the limiting position, if such a limit limit, in mathematics, value approached by a sequence or a function as the index or independent variable approaches some value, possibly infinity. For example, the terms of the sequence 1-2, 1-4, 1-8, 1-16, … are obviously getting smaller and smaller; since,
..... Click the link for more information. exists, of a secant line through P and another point P′ on the curve or surface as P′ is allowed to approach P. The tangent plane to a surface at a point is the plane in which every line in the plane that passes through the point is a tangent line to the surface at that point. The study of tangent lines and planes usually requires the concepts of the calculus calculus, branch of mathematics that studies continuously changing quantities. The calculus is characterized by the use of infinite processes, involving passage to a limit—the notion of tending toward, or approaching, an ultimate value.
..... Click the link for more information. and is included within the scope of differential geometry differential geometry, branch of geometry in which the concepts of the calculus are applied to curves, surfaces, and other geometric entities. The approach in classical differential geometry involves the use of coordinate geometry (see analytic geometry; Cartesian
..... Click the link for more information. .

2 A trigonometric function. See trigonometry trigonometry [Gr.,=measurement of triangles], a specialized area of geometry concerned with the properties of and relations among the parts of a triangle. Spherical trigonometry is concerned with the study of triangles on the surface of a sphere rather than in the
..... Click the link for more information. .

tangent

1. a geometric line, curve, plane, or curved surface that touches another curve or surface at one point but does not intersect it

2. (of an angle) a trigonometric function that in a right-angled triangle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to that of the adjacent side; the ratio of sine to cosine

3. Music a part of the action of a clavichord consisting of a small piece of metal that strikes the string to produce a note

tangent [′tan·jənt]

(mathematics)

A line is tangent to a curve at a fixed pointPif it is the limiting position of a line passing throughPand a variable point on the curveQ,asQapproachesP.

The function which is the quotient of the sine function by the cosine function. Abbreviated tan.

The tangent of an angle is the ratio of its sine and cosine. Abbreviated tan.

tangent

Of lines, curves, and surfaces: meeting at a single point and having, at that point, the same direction.

Tangent

a trigonometric function. Its abbreviation is tan. The tangent of an acute angle in a right triangle is the ratio of the leg opposite the angle to the leg adjacent to the angle.

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No references found	Then I tossed him a Yorker which he missed and it went off at a tangent as soon as it had reached the tree. The Little White Bird by Barrie, James Matthew View in context From these conflicting influences resulted a line which might become a tangent. Round The Moon by Verne, Jules View in context Suffice it that a petrel wheeled somewhere between deepening carmine and paling blue, and it took my thoughts off at an earthy tangent. Dead Men Tell No Tales by Hornung, E. W. View in context	Tanen Taunggyi Tanenbaum, Andrew Tanenbaum, Marc H. Taner, Haldun Tanev, Vasil Konstantinov Taney County Taney, Roger Taney, Roger B Taney, Roger Brooke Tanfilev, Gavriil Tanfilev, Gavriil Ivanovich Tang Tang dynasty Tang Hsien-Tsu Tang Yin Tanga Tanganyika Tanganyika, Lake Tangata Manu tangata whenua Tange Tange Kenzo Tange, Kenzo tangeite tangelo Tangent tangent arc tangent bending tangent bundle tangent circles tangent cone Tangent Curve tangent galvanometer tangent indicatrix tangent latitude error Tangent Line tangent offset Tangent Plane tangent point tangent screw tangent space tangent surface tangent vector tangent welding tangent-sawn tangential tangential acceleration tangential coma tangential component tangential coordinates tangential curvature	Tange, Kenzo tanged tanged tanged tangeite Tangello Tangello tangelo tangelo tangelo tangelo tangelo tree tangelos tangelos Tangen Tangen Tangen tangence tangence tangencies tangencies tangencies tangencies tangency tangency tangency tangency Tangens Tangens Tangens Tangent Tangent (geometry) Tangent (geometry) Tangent (geometry) Tangent (geometry) Tangent (trigonometric function) Tangent (trigonometric function) Tangent (trigonometry) Tangent (trigonometry) Tangent (trigonometry) Tangent (trigonometry) tangent altitude Tangent arc tangent bending Tangent bundle Tangent bundle section Tangent bundle section tangent circles Tangent cone Tangent Curve Tangent function Tangent function Tangent galvanometer Tangent galvanometer Tangent galvanometer Tangent galvanometer Tangent galvanometer Tangent Hyperbolic tangent indicatrix tangent latitude error Tangent law

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Then I tossed him a Yorker which he missed and it went off at a tangent as soon as it had reached the tree.

The Little White Bird by Barrie, James Matthew View in context

From these conflicting influences resulted a line which might become a tangent.

Round The Moon by Verne, Jules View in context

Suffice it that a petrel wheeled somewhere between deepening carmine and paling blue, and it took my thoughts off at an earthy tangent.

Dead Men Tell No Tales by Hornung, E. W. View in context

Tangent playV2('en/US/sg/sgsfdhskdrdosgsrhn');playV2('en/UK/sg/sgsfdhskdrdosgsrhn')

Tangent