1. secant - Noun
2. secant - Adjective
Cutting; divivding into two parts; as, a secant line.
A line that cuts another; especially, a straight line cutting a curve in two or more points.
A right line drawn from the center of a circle through one end of a circular arc, and terminated by a tangent drawn from the other end; the number expressing the ratio line of this line to the radius of the circle. See Trigonometrical function, under Function.
Source: Webster's dictionaryFor example, if two circular arcs meet at a sharp point (a vertex) then there is no uniquely defined tangent at the vertex because the limit of the progression of secant lines depends on the direction in which "point B" approaches the vertex. Source: Internet
Both the secant method and the improved formula rely on initial guesses for IRR. Source: Internet
Hardened penetrator A secant ogive Further thinking on the subject envisions a hardened penetrator using kinetic energy to defeat the target's defenses and subsequently deliver a nuclear explosive to the buried target. Source: Internet
More directly, given a small change in x, the relative change in x is while the relative change in is Taking the ratio yields: : The last term is the difference quotient (the slope of the secant line), and taking the limit yields the derivative. Source: Internet
As a point q approaches the origin from the right, the secant line always has slope 1. As a point q approaches the origin from the left, the secant line always has slope −1. Source: Internet
Consequently, the secant lines do not approach any single slope, so the limit of the difference quotient does not exist. Source: Internet