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The cosine of an angle is equal to the length of the "adjacent" side divided by the length of the "hypotenuse" of a right triangle formed by a horizontal line (called the "adjacent side"), another line (the "hypotenuse") intersecting the first line at the specified angle, and a third line (called the "opposite" side) drawn perpendicular to the first line and intersecting the second line. Note that it does not matter how far away from the angle you draw this third line, because the trigonometric functions are all ratios, and they hold true not matter how large or small the actual lengths.

Now, if the angle in question is zero degrees, then there is no difference between the first two lines (adjacent and hypotenuse). They are the same line. The distance between them, at all points, is zero. If you try to draw the third line, it will not be a line at all, but just a point, which lies on both the adjacent side and the hypotenuse. And at this point, the lengths of the adjacent side and the hypotenuse will be identical. Remember that the cosine is defined as the length of the adjacent side divided by the length of the hypotenuse. But these lengths are the same, so you're dividing a number by itself. And when you do that, the answer is always 1.

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15y ago
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Q: Why cosine 0 degree equals 1?
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