Trigonometric value

Cos(30°) = √3/2

Cosine — the x-coordinate of the corresponding unit-circle point, or adjacent/hypotenuse in a right triangle.

How to derive cos(30°)

cos(30°)=32cos(30°) = \dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2}

In a 30-60-90 triangle with sides 1, √3, 2, the side adjacent to 30° has length √3, so cos(30°) = adjacent/hypotenuse = √3/2.

Unit-circle context

The angle 30° corresponds to π/6 radians and sits Quadrant I on the unit circle.

Other trig values at 30°

Related cos values

Frequently asked

What is the exact value of cos(30°)?
The exact value is √3/2. Its decimal approximation is 0.86603.
How do you derive cos(30°)?
In a 30-60-90 triangle with sides 1, √3, 2, the side adjacent to 30° has length √3, so cos(30°) = adjacent/hypotenuse = √3/2.
What is 30° in radians?
30° equals π/6 radians (multiply degrees by π/180).

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