Cotangent Space Calculator

Explore cotangent from angles or coordinate basis matrices. See steps, warnings, and rounded results instantly. Download tables as CSV or PDF with one click.

Mode
Angle Input
cot(θ) is undefined when sin(θ)=0. This tool flags those angles.
Dual Basis Setup
Enter a full-rank basis matrix V. Columns represent tangent basis vectors v1..vn. The calculator returns the dual basis W = (V-1)T.
Basis Matrix V Entries
Tip: Use simple bases first, then try rotated/scaled bases.
Reset

Example Data Table

Example Inputs Expected Output
Trig: 45° Angle=45, Unit=Degrees cot(θ)=1.000000
Trig: 30° Angle=30, Unit=Degrees cot(θ)=1.732051
Trig: 180° Angle=180, Unit=Degrees cot(θ)=undefined (sin(θ)=0)
Dual basis (n=2) V = [[1,0],[0,2]] W = [[1,0],[0,0.5]]
Dual basis (n=3) V = identity matrix W = identity matrix

Formula Used

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Select a mode: trigonometric cot(θ) or dual basis (cotangent space).
  2. Set your preferred decimal precision for formatted results.
  3. For cot(θ), enter an angle and choose units, then calculate.
  4. For dual basis, choose n and fill the matrix V completely.
  5. Review the result box above the form and download CSV or PDF.

Computation Modes and Outputs

This calculator provides two complementary views. The trigonometric mode computes cot(θ) alongside sin(θ), cos(θ), tan(θ), sec(θ), and csc(θ), with a configurable precision from 0–12 decimals. The cotangent-space mode treats your matrix V as a tangent basis and returns the dual basis W that satisfies WTV = I.

Angle Units and Conversion Data

Angle inputs can be entered in degrees, radians, or gradians. Internally, values are converted to radians for evaluation, using π/180 for degrees and π/200 for gradians. The results table also reports the degree-equivalent angle to help compare periodic behavior over 0–360° in the graph.

Undefined Points and Numerical Stability

Cotangent becomes undefined whenever sin(θ)=0, occurring at integer multiples of π. The calculator detects near-zero sine values with a small tolerance and labels outputs as undefined instead of returning misleading large numbers. The Plotly curve intentionally breaks at those points, preventing artificial spikes from connecting across asymptotes.

Dual Basis Derivation for Cotangent Spaces

For an n-dimensional basis, V must be full rank. The tool computes V-1 using pivoted Gaussian elimination, then forms W=(V-1)T. Each column of W represents a covector that pairs with the input tangent basis via the Kronecker delta, giving an immediately checkable identity WTV=I.

Graph Interpretation with Practical Data

In trigonometric mode, the interactive plot shows cot(θ) over one full rotation. You can zoom to inspect neighborhoods around steep regions near 0°, 180°, and 360°. In dual mode, the heatmap visualizes W entry magnitudes, helping you spot scaling, near-singularity, and sensitivity patterns across rows and columns.

Exports for Documentation and Review

CSV export stores every key-value pair from the computed result block, including matrix data, which supports audits and spreadsheet analysis. PDF export produces a compact single-page report suitable for assignments, lab notes, or quick sharing. Recompute with different precision to create consistent, reproducible numeric summaries.

FAQs

1) Why is cot(θ) sometimes shown as undefined?

cot(θ)=cos(θ)/sin(θ). When sin(θ)=0, division is not defined. The calculator detects that case and reports “undefined” to avoid unstable, misleading values.

2) What does the dual basis output represent?

The dual basis W contains covectors wi that satisfy wi(vj)=δij. It is a concrete coordinate model for the cotangent space relative to your tangent basis.

3) How should I enter the matrix V?

Enter V by rows in the grid. Conceptually, its columns are the tangent basis vectors v1…vn. The tool uses that convention when computing W=(V-1)T.

4) What dimension sizes are supported?

The dual-basis mode supports n=2 to n=5 for clarity and speed in browsers. Larger sizes are possible in principle, but UI and numeric conditioning become harder to manage.

5) Why does the graph break at certain angles?

The plot uses null points where sin(θ)≈0, which creates a break in the line. This prevents the curve from incorrectly drawing across cotangent asymptotes.

6) What should I do if the matrix is singular?

If det(V)=0, the inverse does not exist and no dual basis is defined. Adjust the basis vectors so they become linearly independent, then recompute.

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Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.