The versed sine, or versine, of an angle is a trigonometric function defined as \( \text{vers } x = 1 - \cos x \). It represents the difference between 1 and the cosine of an angle. This function helps calculate distances around circles and in surveying applications.
- Versed sine always has a value between 0 and 2 for angles between 0 and 360 degrees.
- It is related to the cosine function, highlighting how the concave or convex curvature of waves behaves.
In practical terms, let's think about the value of the cosine at key angles.
- For \( x = 0 \), \( \cos 0 = 1 \), so \( \text{vers } 0 = 1 - 1 = 0 \).
- For \( x = 90^\circ \), \( \cos 90^\circ = 0 \), so \( \text{vers } 90^\circ = 1 - 0 = 1 \).
- Finally, for \( x = 180^\circ \), \( \cos 180^\circ = -1 \), so \( \text{vers } 180^\circ = 1 - (-1) = 2 \).
By understanding these values, you'll have a clearer insight into how the versed sine function behaves and its significance.