coversed sine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely rare/ObsoleteHighly technical / Historical mathematics
Quick answer
What does “coversed sine” mean?
A trigonometric function defined as 1 minus the sine of an angle: coversin(θ) = 1 − sin(θ).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A trigonometric function defined as 1 minus the sine of an angle: coversin(θ) = 1 − sin(θ).
Historically used in trigonometry, navigation, and surveying as one of the five main functions alongside sine, cosine, versine, and haversine, but now largely obsolete in standard mathematics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No differences in meaning or usage. The term is equally archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes historical mathematics, antique navigation tables, and pre-computer calculation methods.
Frequency
Effectively zero frequency in modern text outside historical or specialist mathematical discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “coversed sine” in a Sentence
coversed sine of (angle)coversin(θ)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coversed sine” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- This term is not used as a verb.
American English
- This term is not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- This term is not used as an adverb.
American English
- This term is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The coversed sine function is now obsolete.
- A coversed sine table was used for navigation.
American English
- The coversed sine function is now obsolete.
- A coversed sine table was used for navigation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only appears in historical contexts within mathematics or history of science papers.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Only used in extremely niche discussions of historical calculation methods, e.g., reproducing antique navigation tables or explaining old surveying texts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coversed sine”
- Confusing it with 'cosecant' (csc) or 'cosine' (cos).
- Using it in modern trigonometric calculations where it is unnecessary.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is entirely obsolete. Modern mathematics and engineering use sine, cosine, and tangent primarily.
Versine is 1 − cos(θ). Coversed sine is 1 − sin(θ). They are part of the same historical family of functions.
It simplified specific formulas in pre-computer calculation, especially those involving the law of cosines for spheres, avoiding negative numbers and making manual computation with logarithms easier.
Virtually never. Any required calculation would be written explicitly as (1 - sin(theta)) if needed, but this is an extremely rare occurrence.
A trigonometric function defined as 1 minus the sine of an angle: coversin(θ) = 1 − sin(θ).
Coversed sine is usually highly technical / historical mathematics in register.
Coversed sine: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkəʊvɜːst saɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkoʊvɜːrst saɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No idioms exist for this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'COVERed sine' – it's the sine 'covered' or subtracted from 1. Cover-sin = 1 − sin.
Conceptual Metaphor
MATHEMATICAL FUNCTIONS ARE TOOLS (an obsolete tool in the mathematical toolkit).
Practice
Quiz
In which field was the coversed sine primarily used historically?