How to use ASIN Google Sheets formula?

The syntax for the ASIN formula is =ASIN(value), it has 1 required parameter.

Why is ASIN Google Sheets formula not working?

One common reason the ASIN formula may not be working is due to using degrees instead of radians. The <code>ASIN</code> function returns the result in radians, so make sure your other calculations are also using radians.

ASIN

The ASIN function returns the arcsine of a value in radians, which is the angle whose sine is the specified value. This function is commonly used in trigonometry and geometry calculations. When used in a formula, the ASIN function takes a single argument, the value for which to calculate the arcsine.

How to use ASIN formula?
Examples of using ASIN formula
ASIN formula not working?
Similar formulas to ASIN

Usage

Use the ASIN formula with the syntax shown below, it has 1 required parameter:

=ASIN(value)

Parameters:

value (required):
The value for which to calculate the arcsine, expressed in radians. Must be a number between -1 and 1, inclusive.

Examples

Here are a few example use cases that explain how to use the ASIN formula in Google Sheets.

Calculating an angle in a right triangle

When given the lengths of two sides of a right triangle, the ASIN function can be used to calculate the measure of the angle opposite the shorter side.

Converting a sine value to an angle

The ASIN function can be used to find the measure of an angle whose sine is a given value. This is useful in trigonometry and geometry calculations.

Finding a vertical angle in a triangle

When given the measures of two angles in a triangle and the length of one side, the ASIN function can be used to find the measure of the angle opposite the given side.

Common Mistakes

ASIN not working? Here are some common mistakes people make when using the ASIN Google Sheets Formula:

Using degrees instead of radians

The ASIN function returns the result in radians, so make sure your other calculations are also using radians.

Providing a value outside the range of -1 to 1

The parameter to the ASIN function must be between -1 and 1, inclusive. Providing a value outside that range will result in an error.

The following functions are similar to ASIN or are often used with it in a formula:

SIN
The SIN function in Google Sheets returns the sine of a given angle in radians. Sine is a mathematical function that describes a smooth repetitive oscillation. It is commonly used in trigonometry, physics, and engineering to model phenomena such as waves, oscillations, and periodic motion.
COS
The COS function in Google Sheets returns the cosine of an angle provided in radians. It is commonly used in trigonometry to calculate the cosine of an angle. The function takes one parameter, the angle in radians.
TAN
The TAN function returns the tangent of an angle specified in radians. Tangent is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to the length of the adjacent side of a right-angled triangle. This function is commonly used in trigonometry and geometry calculations.

Learn More

You can learn more about the ASIN Google Sheets function on Google Support.