Trigonometry Calculator

Compute all six trig functions for any angle in degrees or radians.

Sin, cos, tanDegrees/radiansUpdated May 2026

Trig results depend on degrees vs radians.

Live solving · Degree mode · Right-triangle ratios

sin(30 °)

0.5

sin(θ) = opposite ÷ hypotenuse

Formula used

sin(θ) = opposite ÷ hypotenuse

sin(30°)

Angle in degrees

30°

Angle in radians

0.5235987756 rad

sin

0.5

cos

0.8660254038

tan

0.5773502692

csc

2

sec

1.1547005384

cot

1.7320508076

Quadrant note

The angle is in Quadrant I.

Special angle

Special angle: 30° = π/6 radians.

sin(30°) = 0.5.
This result uses degrees mode. Switching modes changes how the angle input is interpreted.
sin(θ) = opposite ÷ hypotenuse explains the right-triangle ratio.

Trigonometry Formulas and Identities

Sine

sin(θ) = opposite ÷ hypotenuse

Cosine

cos(θ) = adjacent ÷ hypotenuse

Tangent

tan(θ) = opposite ÷ adjacent

Reciprocal Functions

csc(θ) = 1 ÷ sin(θ), sec(θ) = 1 ÷ cos(θ), cot(θ) = 1 ÷ tan(θ)

Pythagorean Identity

sin²(θ) + cos²(θ) = 1

Degree/Radian Conversion

radians = degrees × π ÷ 180; degrees = radians × 180 ÷ π

Inverse Trig

arcsin(x), arccos(x), and arctan(x) find angles from ratios.

Variable Explanations

θ

Angle.

opposite

Side across from the angle.

adjacent

Side next to the angle.

hypotenuse

Longest side of a right triangle.

radians

Angle measure based on arc length.

degrees

Angle measure where a full circle is 360°.

inverse trig

Finding an angle from a trig ratio.

undefined

Result cannot be calculated because division by zero occurs.

Right-Triangle Diagram and Unit-Circle Meaning

θadjacentoppositehypotenuse

Sine uses opposite and hypotenuse, cosine uses adjacent and hypotenuse, and tangent uses opposite and adjacent. On the unit circle, cosine is the x-coordinate and sine is the y-coordinate.

Worked Examples

sin(30°)

Formula or rule: sin(θ) = opposite ÷ hypotenuse

Substitution: sin(30°)

Answer: 0.5

A 30-60-90 triangle has sine 1/2.

cos(60°)

Formula or rule: cos(θ) = adjacent ÷ hypotenuse

Substitution: cos(60°)

Answer: 0.5

Cosine compares adjacent side to hypotenuse.

tan(45°)

Formula or rule: tan(θ) = opposite ÷ adjacent

Substitution: tan(45°)

Answer: 1

In a 45-45-90 triangle, opposite and adjacent are equal.

180° to radians

Formula or rule: radians = degrees × π ÷ 180

Substitution: 180 × π ÷ 180

Answer: π radians

A straight angle is π radians.

π/2 radians to degrees

Formula or rule: degrees = radians × 180 ÷ π

Substitution: π/2 × 180 ÷ π

Answer: 90°

π/2 radians equals a right angle.

arcsin(0.5)

Formula or rule: arcsin(x) gives the angle whose sine is x

Substitution: arcsin(0.5)

Answer: 30° or π/6

Inverse sine returns an angle.

Right triangle ratio

Formula or rule: sin(θ) = opposite ÷ hypotenuse

Substitution: 3 ÷ 5

Answer: 0.6

Opposite 3 and hypotenuse 5 gives sine 0.6.

tan(90°)

Formula or rule: tan(θ) = sin(θ) ÷ cos(θ)

Substitution: 1 ÷ 0

Answer: undefined

Tangent is undefined when cosine is zero.

Special angle

Formula or rule: cos(45°)

Substitution: √2 ÷ 2

Answer: ≈ 0.7071

Special angles often have exact forms.

Degree/radian mistake

Formula or rule: sin(90°) vs sin(90 radians)

Substitution: different angle modes

Answer: different results

Always check the active angle mode.

Degrees vs Radians

Degrees

Degrees divide a full circle into 360 parts. Geometry and many everyday angle problems often use degrees.

Radians

Radians measure angles using radius and arc length. 180° equals π radians and 90° equals π/2 radians.

Sine, Cosine, Tangent, and Reciprocal Functions

Sine

Opposite ÷ hypotenuse.

Cosine

Adjacent ÷ hypotenuse.

Tangent

Opposite ÷ adjacent.

Cosecant

Reciprocal of sine.

Secant

Reciprocal of cosine.

Cotangent

Reciprocal of tangent.

Undefined values

Reciprocal functions are undefined when the denominator is zero.

Common Use Cases

Right-triangle geometry
Finding heights and distances
Ramps and slopes
Navigation and bearings
Physics vectors
Waves and periodic motion
Engineering and construction
Unit-circle practice
Trigonometry homework

Common Trigonometry Mistakes

Using degrees when radians are selected.
Using radians when degrees are expected.
Mixing up opposite and adjacent sides.
Using the hypotenuse as a leg.
Forgetting tangent is undefined at certain angles.
Forgetting inverse sin and inverse cos inputs must be between -1 and 1.
Rounding too early.
Treating sin⁻¹ as reciprocal sine instead of inverse sine without context.
Assuming calculator output is exact when it is a decimal approximation.

Understanding Your Result

Sine result

Opposite-to-hypotenuse ratio.

Cosine result

Adjacent-to-hypotenuse ratio.

Tangent result

Opposite-to-adjacent ratio.

Inverse trig result

Angle that produces the given ratio.

Degree/radian conversion

Same angle expressed in another unit.

Undefined result

Function is not defined for that input.

Exact value

Symbolic result for special angles.

Frequently Asked Questions