The TAN function in Google Sheets is a powerful mathematical tool utilized for computing the tangent of a given angle. This angle must be specified in radians, making this function particularly useful in trigonometric calculations relevant to fields such as engineering and physics.

Syntax

TAN(angle)

• angle: The angle in radians for which the tangent is to be calculated. This can be a direct numeric value, a cell reference, or a formula that results in a radian measure.

Example #1

=TAN(0.785398)

This function call calculates the tangent of 0.785398 radians (which is approximately 45 degrees). The result is approximately 1.

Example #2

=TAN(A1)

If cell A1 contains the value 1 (approximately 57.2958 degrees), this function computes the tangent of that angle, yielding a result of approximately 1.5574.

Example #3

=TAN(RADIANS(30))

This example first converts 30 degrees to radians using the RADIANS function and then calculates its tangent. The result will be approximately 0.5774, which is the tangent of 30 degrees.

Error handling

• NUM!: This error occurs if the input is not a numeric value or if it is an invalid angle.
• VALUE!: This error indicates that the angle parameter is not recognized as a valid format, usually happening with non-numeric input.

Conclusion

In summary, the TAN function in Google Sheets is an essential tool for performing trigonometric calculations involving angles in radians. By providing a straightforward syntax and versatile application, users can easily access tangent values necessary for various analytical and scientific tasks, solidifying its importance in data analysis and engineering contexts.