What do you call the reciprocal of tangent?

The reciprocal of tangent is known as cotangent. In trigonometry, tangent is defined as the ratio of the opposite side to the adjacent side in a right triangle. Therefore, cotangent, being its reciprocal, is defined as the ratio of the adjacent side to the opposite side. This relationship can be expressed mathematically as cotangent (cot) = 1/tangent (tan). Understanding this concept is crucial for solving various problems in trigonometry and surveying, as it allows for conversions between different trigonometric functions based on their reciprocal identities.

In the context of the other options, cosecant is the reciprocal of sine, secant is the reciprocal of cosine, and sine is one of the primary trigonometric functions without being a reciprocal. Therefore, their definitions do not pertain to the reciprocal of tangent.