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I was just reading through some vetor math, and came across the following formula:
O = acos( (a.b)/(||a|| * ||b||) )
Where O is the angle between the two vectors.
I was just wondering what acos is. Is it 1/cos (cos to the -1)?
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Quote:Original post by Anonymous Poster
It's the inverse of cos, ie if y = acos(x) then x = cos(y).
So I was correct then. :p
Thank you.
It's inverse cosine. With numbers the inverse of x is the number y such that y*x=1. With functions the inverse of f is the function g such that g(f(a))=a. So more or less acos(cos(t))=t. More or less because cos(t)=cos(t+2*n*pi) where n is an integer and cos(t)=cos(2*pi-t). So t could be any real number but you are going to get back a number between 0 and pi. So only if 0<=t<=pi does acos(cos(t))=t.
Quote:Original post by Tera_DragonNot to be rude, but just so that you are corrected, no, you weren't correct. acos(x) does not equal (cos(x))-1. acos(x) is often written as cos-1(x), but this is not the same as 1/cos(x).
So I was correct then.
Basically, if cos(x) takes an angle and returns a ratio of side-adjacent to hypotenuse, then acos(y) takes a ratio of side-adjacent to hypotenuse, and returns an angle.
acos is not 1/cos. It is a different function as LilBudyWizer said.
y = cos(x)
acos(y) = x
1/cos is the secent function.
1/cos = secant
1/sin = cosecant
1/tan = cotangent
These are not the same as acos, asin, or atan.
y = cos(x)
acos(y) = x
1/cos is the secent function.
1/cos = secant
1/sin = cosecant
1/tan = cotangent
These are not the same as acos, asin, or atan.
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Quote:Original post by Agony
acos(x) is often written as cos-1(x), but this is not the same as 1/cos(x).
Confused...
Let f(x) = cos(x)
Let g(x) = acos(x) = cos-1(x)
Let h(x) = 1/cos(c) = cos(x)-1
You have f(g(x)) = x but f(x)*h(x) = 1
arc cosine is the inverse function of cosine
Let g(x) = acos(x) = cos-1(x)
Let h(x) = 1/cos(c) = cos(x)-1
You have f(g(x)) = x but f(x)*h(x) = 1
arc cosine is the inverse function of cosine
Quote:Original post by Tera_DragonQuote:Original post by Agony
acos(x) is often written as cos-1(x), but this is not the same as 1/cos(x).
Confused...
It is confusing notation. I would just take it for granted that when you see cos-1(x) that what it means is acos(x) instead of 1/cos(x). This is simply an oddity of math notation. There are other such oddities out there! You do have to be careful of the context of the equation, since in some cases people will write in a way that is inconsistent with this oddity. Being able to spot the inconsistency is EXACTLY why it is really, really good to understand geometry and trig!
You can see that acos is not the same as 1/cos by looking at this example:
cos(0) is equal to 1
acos(x) is the angle whose cos is x, therefore since cos(0) is 1, we can see that acos(1) is 0
But, 1/cos(0) = 1/1 = 1, which is VERY different from acos(1)!
I hope this helps a bit.
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