If you remember slope intercept form from algebra (y=mx+b) m is the slope of a line calculated as rise/run or (y[1]-y[2])/(x[1]-x[2]). Tangent is the slope of a radius extending from the origin. That radius is the hypotenuse of a right triangle with height sine(theta) and base cosine(theta). Tan is then sin/cos. Cotan is just cos/sin or 1/Tan. Both are useful for working out how lines are oriented relative to a coordinate grid
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