Excel's list of functions includes a number of the most common trig functions. These include the TAN function which gives you the tangent of an angle measured in radians.
Note: Since most angles are measured in degrees, you might need to convert your data to radians using the RADIANS function.
The syntax for the TAN function is:
= TAN ( Number )
Number - the angle in radians being calculated.
Example: Using Excel's TAN Function
For help with this example, see the image above.
- Enter the following data into cell D1: 0.593412
- Click on cell E1 in the spreadsheet - this is where the function will be located.
- Click on the Formulas tab of the ribbon menu.
- Choose Math & Trig from the ribbon to open the function drop down list.
- Click on TAN in the list to bring up the function's dialog box.
- In the dialog box, click on the Number line.
- Click on cell D1 in the spreadsheet.
- Click OK.
- The answer 0.674509 should appear in cell E1.
- When you click on cell E1 the complete function = TAN ( D1 ) appears in the formula bar above the worksheet.
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