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Hyperbolic functions

math Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Math helps us study shapes.

sinh cosh tanh
sinh cosh tanh

Most people know about circles. We use math to find parts of a circle. We call these trigonometric functions.

Circular and hyperbolic angle
Circular and hyperbolic angle

But some math uses a different curve. This curve is called a hyperbola. We use hyperbolic functions to study this shape.

Cartesian hyperbolic rhombus
Cartesian hyperbolic rhombus

These functions work with a special angle. This angle is based on an area.

These tools are very useful. They help us understand how heat moves. They also help us study how water flows. Scientists use them to study physics. They even help us understand how gravity works. For example, a hanging chain makes a shape called a catenary. Hyperbolic functions can describe this curve.

People have studied these ideas for a long time. Isaac Newton thought about them in 1687. Later, Vincenzo Riccati gave them their names in 1757. Today, we use them to solve many hard puzzles in science.

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🖼️ Images & Media (13)
File:sinh cosh tanh.svg
sinh cosh tanh.svg
File:Hyperbolic functions-2.svg
Hyperbolic functions-2.svg
File:Cartesian_hyperbolic_rhombus.svg
Cartesian_hyperbolic_rhombus.svg
File:Hyperbolic and exponential; sinh.svg
Hyperbolic and exponential; sinh.svg
File:Hyperbolic and exponential; cosh.svg
Hyperbolic and exponential; cosh.svg
File:csch sech coth.svg
csch sech coth.svg
File:Circular and hyperbolic angle.svg
Circular and hyperbolic angle.svg
File:Complex Sinh.jpg
Complex Sinh.jpg
File:Complex Cosh.jpg
Complex Cosh.jpg
File:Complex Tanh.jpg
Complex Tanh.jpg
File:Complex Coth.jpg
Complex Coth.jpg
File:Complex Sech.jpg
Complex Sech.jpg

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