Math Not Adding Up

OOintheNude · Blue Pill Joined: Jul 06, 2009 Posts: 3

I am trying to use the math functions: Sin Tan Cos, and the end number is not what I am expecting. For example on my calculator TAN(17), I get = 0.30573068145866, but in Spreadsheet I get TAN(17) = 3.4939
What is going on?

yoxi · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:23 am Post subject:

From the Help:

TAN
Returns the tangent of the given angle.
Syntax:
TAN(number)
Number is the angle in radians.
To return the tangent of an angle in degrees, use the RADIANS function.
Example:
The tangent of the angle (in radians) 3.14 (Pi) is 0.
TAN(RADIANS(45)) returns 1, the tangent of 45 degrees.

- padmavyuha

OOintheNude · Blue Pill Joined: Jul 06, 2009 Posts: 3

Well, that leads in the right direction, just found out at OO forums that you need to =Tan(Radians(Your Number))

I am sorry but why do we need to do this? Most math problems are done in Degrees not Radians in all math classes I ever taken or problem I needed to solve. It may a round World but it has Square Problems.

yoxi · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 8:48 am Post subject: Re: Degrees not Radians

Jim · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:15 am Post subject:

Not to be a smart alec, but all my math classes required calculation based on radians. Might've just been a preference of my particular math department, though.

Indeed, if you're looking for circumferential distance, then d=theta*radius, where theta is in radians.