Math Is Fun Forum

hypfunctionshelp

Guest

What are sinh, cosh and tanh?

I know about sin, cos, and tan. But what are sinh, cosh, and tanh?

Please explain as simply as possible.

Also, what are csc(x), cot(x) and sec(x) used for? I know that they are just sin[sup]-1[/sup], cos[sup]-1[/sup] and tan[sup]-1[/sup] but what are their applications?

Thanks.

Anakin

Member

Registered: 2009-10-04

Posts: 145

Re: What are sinh, cosh and tanh?

Not much to comment on that but I've always been told and taught that csc(x), cot(x) and sec(x) do not equal sin-1, cos-1 and tan-1. Because sin-1, cos-1 and tan-1 are the sine inverse, cosine inverse and tangent inverse functions.

Csc(x), cot(x) and sec(x) are the reciprocal functions of the sin(x), tan(x) and cos(x) functions. Not the inverse of them.

Identity

Member

Registered: 2007-04-18

Posts: 934

Re: What are sinh, cosh and tanh?

The definitions are:

They are partially related to the usual trig functions in that they interact similarly

etc

Usually you won't encounter them until university calculus

Last edited by Identity (2009-12-12 07:53:27)

hypfunctionshelp

Guest

Re: What are sinh, cosh and tanh?

Ok, what are the uses of sinh, cosh and tanh? and when i find sinh(x) what am i actually doing?

Oh and thanks for clearing that up anakin and devnate`

random_fruit

Member

Registered: 2008-12-25

Posts: 39

Re: What are sinh, cosh and tanh?

I recall looking cosh and sinh up in Wikipedia.  If I remember correctly, they describe the way a rope hangs between two points, called a catenary.  Worth a look for yourself?