Excel ATAN Function
The ATAN function calculates the arctangent (inverse tangent) of a number, and returns an angle, in radians, in the range from -π/2 to π/2.
Syntax
=ATAN(number)
Arguments
- number (required): The value for which you want to calculate the arctangent.
Return Value
The ATAN function returns a numeric value.
Function Notes
- The result is an angle expressed in radians. To convert the angle from radians to degrees, use the DEGREES function, or multiply the result by 180/PI().
- ATAN returns the #VALUE! error if number is not numeric.
Example
To calculate the arctangent (inverse tangent) of the numbers listed in the table as shown below, please copy or enter the below formula in the top cell (D6) of the result list, and press Enter to get the result. Then select the result cell, and drag the fill handle (the small square in the lower-right corner of the selected cell) down to apply the formula to the below cells.
=ATAN(B6)
Instead of a cell reference, you can type the actual number value in the formula as shown below.
=ATAN(-1)
Note that the results are angles expressed in radians. You can nest the ATAN function into a DEGREES function to convert the angles from radians to degrees as shown below.
=DEGREES(ATAN(-1))
Alternatively, you can multiply ATAN by 180/PI().
=ATAN(-1)*180/PI()
Related functions
The ATAN2 function calculates the arctangent (inverse tangent) of the specified x- and y-coordinates, and returns an angle, in radians, in the range from -π/2 to π/2.
The ATANH function calculates the inverse hyperbolic tangent of a number.
The DEGREES function converts an angle in radians to an angle in degrees.
The PI function returns the number 3.14159265358979 of the mathematical constant called pi.
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