How to use SIN Google Sheets formula?

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

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.

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

Usage

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

=SIN(angle)

Parameters:

angle (required):
The angle in radians for which to calculate the sine. The angle can be a number or a reference to a cell containing a number.

Examples

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

Calculate the sine of an angle

One of the main uses of the SIN function is to calculate the sine of an angle in radians. This is useful in a variety of applications, such as physics, engineering, and mathematics.

Model periodic phenomena

Sine functions are used to model a wide range of periodic phenomena, including waves, oscillations, and vibrations. By using the SIN function in a formula, you can create models that simulate these phenomena.

Create visualizations

In Google Sheets, you can use the SIN function to create visualizations of sine waves and other periodic phenomena. By plotting the output of the function over time, you can create graphs that show how these phenomena change over time.

Common Mistakes

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

Invalid input

The angle provided to the SIN function must be in radians. If you provide an angle in degrees, you need to convert it to radians first using the RADIANS function.

Incorrect function name

Make sure you are using the correct function name. The correct function name for the sine function is SIN, all capital letters.

Mismatched parentheses

Check that you have correctly balanced parentheses in your formula.

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

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.
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.
ATAN
The ATAN function returns the arctangent of a value in radians, which is the angle whose tangent is a given value. This function is commonly used in trigonometry and geometry to calculate angles. The returned angle is in the range -π/2 to π/2.

Learn More

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

SIN