The hyperbolic function is a mathematical concept pronounced /haɪpɜːrˈbɒlɪk ˈfʌŋkʃən/. The IPA phonetic transcription of this word breaks down the pronunciation into individual sounds. The "h" is pronounced, followed by a long "i" sound, a "p" sound, a short "er" sound, a "b" sound, an "o" sound, an "l" sound, a short "i" sound, a "k" sound, a space, a number sign, a long "f" sound, an "uh" sound, a "ng" sound, a "k" sound, a "sh" sound, a "uh" sound, and an "n" sound.
A hyperbolic function refers to a class of mathematical functions that are derived from the hyperbola, a type of curve. These functions exhibit characteristics similar to trigonometric functions but are defined using the hyperbolic identities. They are commonly denoted as sinh, cosh, tanh, coth, sech, and csch.
The sinh (hyperbolic sine) function is defined as the ratio of the exponential function to the power of e raised to a specific value and its reciprocal. It is an odd function that represents the relationship between the lengths of line segments and the corresponding radius of a hyperbolic angle. The cosh (hyperbolic cosine) function is similar to the sinh function but represents the relationship between time and the distance traveled in a uniformly accelerated motion.
The tanh (hyperbolic tangent) function is defined as the ratio of the hyperbolic sine to the hyperbolic cosine. It is an odd function that exhibits a characteristic S-shaped curve, and it is commonly used to model growth, decay, or saturation phenomena. The coth (hyperbolic cotangent), sech (hyperbolic secant), and csch (hyperbolic cosecant) functions are derived as reciprocals of the tanh, cosh, and sinh functions, respectively.
Hyperbolic functions are frequently employed in various fields of mathematics, physics, and engineering to describe and analyze a wide range of phenomena, such as electrical circuits, fluid dynamics, wave propagation, and harmonic analysis. They serve as valuable tools to solve differential equations, simplify complex expressions, and study the behavior of physical systems.
The word "hyperbolic" in the term "hyperbolic function" is derived from the Greek word "hyperbolē", meaning "excess" or "exaggeration". The name "hyperbolic function" originates from the fact that these mathematical functions are related to hyperbolas, which are geometric curves characterized by their shape and symmetry. These functions were first introduced and studied extensively in the 18th century by Swiss mathematician Leonard Euler and French mathematician Jean le Rond d'Alembert, among others, thus leading to the term "hyperbolic function".