When using ATAN2, the most common questions fall into 3 areas: error handling, result checking, and repeated use across cells; this section includes 3 common questions and a glossary.
FAQ
What should I do if ATAN2 returns an error value?
- Check whether the parameters are valid numeric values and make sure the cells do not contain extra spaces or text.
- Confirm that the formula uses English commas as separators.
- If the formula references other cells, check whether those cells are blank or formatted unexpectedly.
- Press Enter again after correcting the values.
What should I check if the ATAN2 result does not match my expectation?
- Confirm that the x and y parameters are in the intended order.
- Check whether the cell references point to the correct data.
- Remember that the result is returned in radians; convert it if you need degrees.
- If needed, review the formula step by step to verify the calculation.
How can I use ATAN2 in multiple cells?
- Enter the correct ATAN2 formula in the first target cell.
- Select that cell and move the pointer to the fill handle in the lower-right corner.
- Drag downward or sideways to copy the formula to the target range.
- Check whether relative and absolute references are set as intended, and use
$when you need to lock a reference.
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ATAN2 | A math and trigonometry spreadsheet function that returns the arctangent of specified coordinates. |
| x_num | The x-coordinate parameter in the ATAN2 function. |
| y_num | The y-coordinate parameter in the ATAN2 function. |
| Radians | A unit used to express angles. ATAN2 returns results in radians by default. |
| Fill handle | The small square at the lower-right corner of a selected cell, used to copy formulas to adjacent cells. |