The ASIN function in Google Sheets is used to calculate the inverse sine of a given value, returning the angle in radians. This function is particularly useful in mathematical computations involving trigonometric functions and geometry.

Syntax

ASIN(value)

• value: The value for which you want to find the inverse sine. This must be a number between -1 and 1.

Example #1

ASIN(0.5)

This function returns the inverse sine of 0.5, which is approximately 0.5236 radians, or 30 degrees. Thus, ASIN(0.5) evaluates to about 0.5236.

Example #2

ASIN(-1)

Here, the function finds the inverse sine of -1, yielding a result of -1.5708 radians, or -90 degrees. Thus, ASIN(-1) evaluates to approximately -1.5708.

Example #3

ASIN(1)

In this example, the function calculates the inverse sine of 1, resulting in a value of 1.5708 radians, or 90 degrees. Therefore, ASIN(1) evaluates to approximately 1.5708.

Error handling

• NUM!: This error occurs when the input value is outside the range of -1 to 1, which is not valid for the ASIN function.
• VALUE!: This error indicates that the input is not a valid number, meaning the argument provided cannot be interpreted as a numeric value.

Conclusion

The ASIN function is a powerful tool for those needing to perform trigonometric calculations in Google Sheets. By understanding the syntax and error handling, users can effectively integrate this function into their spreadsheets to derive angles from sine values confidently.