What is the opposite of 'Tangent'?

[Cheatseeker!]

Can anyone tell me what the opposite of Tangent is? My boss just made me feel stupid because I asked what the opposite would be!!!

I'd love to have an answer for her!

[factor-fiction]

In Geometry the Normal is at 90 degrees to a tangent , but that doesn't come up in everyday conversation.

[123everton]

Stringent?

[buildersmate]

Could be co-tangent

[jen78]

Depends on the context I guess.

I'm not a mathmatically kinda person so would use it in the sense of "off on a tangent" so to me the opposite would be staying on the same track if that makes sense?

[jno]

pale lady?

In what context?

[frankief]

The reciprocal of tangent is cotangent.
As you are no doubt aware aware the tangent of an angle in a right angled triangle = opposite divided by adjacent.
The cotangent will therefore be adjacent divided by opposite.
Basic trigonometry!
We used to do this stuff at school - dead useful for impressing the birds, eh?
My source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigonometric_fun ction

[wolf63]

In conversation you can go 'off at a tangent' - veer away from the subject being discussed. I have a tendancy to do this.

[skipy]

To stay in or on the same direction ,subject.

[kujawski]

der its the dreadeded ANTI TANGENT