# Thread: How to explain it in words?

1. ## How to explain it in words?

Hello, I need to write a conclusion for my math assignment report. But i never did it before, I wan to ask that how we consider t=30/cos Ө as?

is it an equation? or?

thanks.

2. ## Re: How to explain it in words?

What you wrote is just t as a function of $\theta$.
What that means, and how to best to describe it, depends on the specifics of the problem where that function arises.

3. ## Re: How to explain it in words?

Originally Posted by johnsomeone
What you wrote is just t as a function of $\theta$.
What that means, and how to best to describe it, depends on the specifics of the problem where that function arises.
Actually it's not a function question, it's a question about vector but involving trigonometry. t=30/cos Ө is the final answer that i get. It's something like "find t in term of Ө", but i don't know how to describe the final answer (t=30/cos Ө)...

4. ## Re: How to explain it in words?

Maybe use the secant function to "describe" it? Is that the kind of description you're looking for?

$t = 30 \sec(\theta)$

5. ## Re: How to explain it in words?

Originally Posted by johnsomeone
Maybe use the secant function to "describe" it? Is that the kind of description you're looking for?

$t = 30 \sec(\theta)$
no. I just want to know what is the whole thing (t=30/cos Ө) called.

6. ## Re: How to explain it in words?

Any of those is correct. Because is says one side = another, it is an "equation".
Because you can use it to find one value given another, it is a "formula".
Because you can think of a value of $\theta$ giving a value of t, it is a "function".

For your purposes, probably "formula" is best.

7. ## Re: How to explain it in words?

Originally Posted by HallsofIvy
Any of those is correct. Because is says one side = another, it is an "equation".
Because you can use it to find one value given another, it is a "formula".
Because you can think of a value of $\theta$ giving a value of t, it is a "function".

For your purposes, probably "formula" is best.
Thanks so much!! ^^