SQL Server TAN() Function

Summary: in this tutorial, you will learn how to use the SQL Server TAN() function to calculate the tangent of a number.

Introduction to the SQL Server TAN() function

In SQL Server, the TAN() function is a math function that returns the tangent of a number.

Here’s the syntax of the TAN() function:

TAN(n)Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

In this syntax:

• n is the angle in radians for which you want to find the tangent value.

The TAN() function returns the tangent of the argument n. If n is NULL, the TAN() function returns NULL.

SQL Server TAN() function examples

Let’s take some examples of using the TAN() function.

1) Basic TAN() function example

The following example uses the TAN() function to calculate the tangent of 1 radian:

SELECT TAN(1) tangent_value;Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Output:

tangent_value
------------------
1.5574077246549023
Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

2) Using the TAN() function with PI() function

The following example uses the TAN() function to find the tangent of pi/4:

SELECT ROUND(TAN(PI()/4),0) tangent_value;Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Output:

tangent_value
-------------
1.0
Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

3) Using TAN() function with table data

First, create a table called angles to store angles in radians:

CREATE TABLE angles(
    id INT IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
    angle DEC(19,2)
);Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Second, insert some rows into the angles table:

INSERT INTO
  angles (angle)
VALUES
  (0),
  (PI() / 4),
  (PI());Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Third, retrieve data from the angles table:

SELECT
  id,
  angle
FROM
  angles;Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Output:

id | angle
---+-------
1  | 1.00
2  | 1.57
3  | 0.52
(3 rows)Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Finally, calculate the tangents of angles from the angles table:

SELECT
  id,
  angle,
  ROUND(TAN(angle), 0) tangent_value
FROM
  angles;Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Output:

id | angle | tangent_value
---+-------+--------------
1  | 0.00  | 0.0
2  | 0.79  | 1.0
3  | 3.14  | 0.0
(3 rows)Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Summary

• Use the TAN() function to calculate the tangent of a number.