How to Use Trigonometric Functions in GeoGebra
GeoGebra
has the built-in functions sin(<x>)
, cos(<x>)
and tan(<x>)
for calculating the sine, the cosine and the tangent of angles.
GeoGebra
uses the names asin(<x>)
and acos(<x>)
, for the inverse functions and for in the interval , and atan(<x>)
for for any . Use the inverse functions to calculate the angles of a right triangle when you already know two or all the side lengths, by typing the expression directly in Algebra View
or CAS
.
When you input angles measured in degrees, you have to use the symbol (keyboard shortcut alt+o
).
Note! If you try to insert a value less than or greater than 1, GeoGebra
will return a number containing the letter . This indicates that you have received a complex solution. Unless you know that complex solutions are fine for your problem, this solution indicates that you input something wrong.
Note! In some versions of GeoGebra
, angles in Algebra View
are by default measured in degrees, while angles in CAS
are measured in radians. If you want CAS
to use degrees, use the commands asind(<x>)
, acosd(<x>)
, and atand(<x>)
, which are the regular commands with a d
at the end of the command name.
You can also get the answer in degrees quickly by dividing your answer by or by the string deg
, such as asin(<x>)/
. It may seem strange to divide by , but it works!
GeoGebra
Instruction 1
Algebra View
Algebra View
under View
in Menu
. Enter
. GeoGebra
Instruction 2
CAS
CAS
under View
in Menu
. Enter
you get the exact answer. If you press Symbolic Evaluation
GeoGebra
writes the answer in radians. Therefore, press Numeric Evaluation