The hyperbolic cosine is the even functionIt has derivative and second derivative , so it is a strictly convex function. Its unique global minimum is , and its image is . For example, . On the unit hyperbola, the hyperbolic cosine is the horizontal coordinate; as a graph against , it is a symmetric bowl.
Its Taylor series beginsThe positive fourth-order term explains why the bowl resembles a parabola near its minimum yet differs from one away from it. Restricting to gives the inverse hyperbolic cosine.
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