# Mathematica output format

Basically Mathematica is giving me outputs in a format I do not recognise. I've just started Year 12, so there are mathematical terms I do not understand. For example, Cot.

When I type D[Log[Sin[x]], x], Mathematica gives me Cot[x], but I want my answer in the form Cos[x]/Sin[x]. I know that they are the same thing, but my teacher has not taught me Cot yet. I had to search on the internet (which I'm obviously not allowed to do under exam conditions). Please help me ASAP as my exam is on the day after tomorrow!

• Welcome to Mathematica.SE! I suggest the following: 1) As you receive help, try to give it too, by answering questions in your area of expertise. 2) Read the faq! 3) When you see good questions and answers, vote them up by clicking the gray triangles, because the credibility of the system is based on the reputation gained by users sharing their knowledge. Also, please remember to accept the answer, if any, that solves your problem, by clicking the checkmark sign! – user9660 Mar 17 '15 at 9:39
• Julia - I doubt mathematica is what you need. But it sounds like it helped you learn about cot... :) I suggest you practise past papers. – djp Mar 17 '15 at 10:51
• If you select Cot and press F1 you will get to the help page of Cot. In the Details section you will find the relation you are looking for. Not being allowed to use Cot is like saying one may write 1 + 2 but not use 3. At later stage you might want to point your teacher to the computer based math initiative. Good luck with your exam! – user21 Mar 17 '15 at 12:29
• Some of the functions are best memorized. – William Mar 19 '15 at 4:34

The second term in each list is the power. So you read the above as $\frac{\cos x}{\sin x}$