1. **State the problem:** Simplify the expression $$\frac{\sqrt{1-\cos^2 x}}{\cos x}$$. 2. **Recall the Pythagorean identity:** $$\sin^2 x + \cos^2 x = 1$$, which implies $$1 - \cos^2 x = \sin^2 x$$. 3. **Substitute the identity into the expression:** $$\frac{\sqrt{1-\cos^2 x}}{\cos x} = \frac{\sqrt{\sin^2 x}}{\cos x}$$. 4. **Simplify the square root:** $$\sqrt{\sin^2 x} = |\sin x|$$ because the square root of a square is the absolute value. 5. **Rewrite the expression:** $$\frac{|\sin x|}{\cos x}$$. 6. **Interpret the expression:** This is $$|\tan x|$$ since $$\tan x = \frac{\sin x}{\cos x}$$. **Final answer:** $$\boxed{|\tan x|}$$