Question

If sin x = .52 and cos x = .85, what is cot x? and what does cot of x mean??

Answer 1

use the identity

cot x = cos x / sin x = 0.85 / 0.52

the cot or cotangent is the reciprocal of the tangent

cot x = 1 / tan x

in a right-angled triangle
tanx = opposite / adjacent so cot x = adjacent / opposite