SQL Tutorial

SQL Trigonometric Functions

SQL trigonometric functions allow you to operate trigonometric calculations.Here are some common SQL trigonometric functions you need to know in your daily SQL programming.

The SQL ACOS() and COS() functions

Both SQL ACOS() and COS() functions are trigonometric. The SQL ACOS() function returns the angle, in radians, whose cosine is the specified float expression (the valid ranges for ACOS() arguments are from -1 through 1). The SQL COS() function returns the cosine of the specified angle, in radians, based on the float expression. Here is an example:

SELECT ACOS(-0.9) as acos_of_0_9, 
       COS(1.00) as cos_of_1

And the output is

    acos_of_0_9        cos_of_1  
---------------  ----------------
2.6905658417935  0.54030230586814

The SQL ASIN() and SIN() functions

Both SQL ASIN() and SIN() functions trigonometric which use a float expression as an input argument. The SQL ASIN() function calculates the angle, measured in radians, whose sine is the specified float expression input argument.(the valid ranges for ASIN() input argument are from -1 through 1). The SIN() function calculates the trigonometric sine value of the angle, measured in radians, as a float expression input argument. here is an example of SQL ASIN() and SIN() functions:

SELECT ASIN(0) AS arcsin_of_0, 
       SIN(PI()/2) AS sin_of_pi_2

And the output is

arcsin_of_0  sin_of_pi_2
-----------  -----------
          0            1

The SQL ATAN(), ATN2(), TAN(), and COT() functions

The SQL ATAN(), ATN2(), TAN(), and COT() functions are mathematical functions and their meanings are listed as folows:

  • The SQL ATAN() function returns the measurement of the angle, in radians, whose tangent is the specified float expression.
  • The SQL ATN2() function returns the angle, in radians, for an angle whose tangent is between the two specified float expressions.
  • The SQL TAN() function returns the trigonometric tangent of the specified float expression.
  • The SQL COT() function returns the trigonometric cotangent of the specified angle, in radians, indicated in the specified float expression.

The SQL DEGREE() and RADIANS() functions

The SQL DEGREES() function returns a numeric expression, the measurement of an angle, in degrees, from the measurement in radians of the angle, while the SQL RADIANS() function calculates the angle in radians from the specified measurement in degrees of the angle. Here is a example query:

SELECT RADIANS(180) as radian_of_180,
       DEGREES(PI()) as degree_of_pi

And output is:

  radian_of_180  degree_of_pi
---------------  ------------
3.1415926535898           180
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