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.