Syntax
ASIN(number)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| number | Parameter of the ASIN function. |
Examples
Arcsine of 0.5
Formula
=ASIN(0.5)
Returns ~0.5236 radians (π/6 or 30°). The angle whose sine is 0.5 is 30 degrees.
Convert to degrees
Formula
=DEGREES(ASIN(0.5))
Returns 30. Wrapping in DEGREES converts the radian result to degrees for easier interpretation.
Find launch angle
Formula
=DEGREES(ASIN(50/(100)))
Returns 30. If a projectile needs to reach a height of 50 at velocity 100 (simplified), the launch angle is ASIN(height/velocity).
Common Errors
#NUM!
The argument must be between -1 and 1. =ASIN(1.5) returns #NUM! because no angle has a sine greater than 1.
#VALUE!
Non-numeric input returns #VALUE!.
Tips
Input range: -1 to 1
Sine values only exist between -1 and 1, so ASIN only accepts inputs in that range. Values outside produce #NUM!.
Result is in radians
ASIN returns radians (-π/2 to π/2). Wrap in DEGREES() for degree values: =DEGREES(ASIN(value)).
Inverse of SIN
ASIN(SIN(x)) = x when x is between -π/2 and π/2. Outside that range, ASIN returns the principal value.
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