How?Returns the arctangent, or inverse tangent, of a number. The arctangent is the angle whose tangent is number. The returned angle is given in radians in the range -pi/2 to pi/2.
Syntax
ATAN (number)
Number is the tangent of the angle you want.
Remark
To express the arctangent in degrees, multiply the result by 180/PI() or use the DEGREES function.
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank spreadsheet.
How?
- Create a blank spreadsheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the spreadsheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the formula that returns the result and the result in the cell, select the cell and press F2 and then ENTER, or click Commands and Options on the spreadsheet toolbar, click the Formula tab, and look in the Formula in active cell (active cell) box.
| Formula | Description (Result) |
|---|---|
| =ATAN(1) | Arctangent of 1 in radians, pi/4 (0.785398) |
| =ATAN(1)*180/PI() | Arctangent of 1 in degrees (45) |
| =DEGREES(ATAN(1)) | Arctangent of 1 in degrees (45) |