MS Excel: How to use the ACOS Function (WS)

This Excel tutorial explains how to use the Excel ACOS function with syntax and examples.

Description

The Microsoft Excel ACOS function returns the arccosine (in radians) of a number.

The ACOS function is a built-in function in Excel that is categorized as a Math/Trig Function. It can be used as a worksheet function (WS) in Excel. As a worksheet function, the ACOS function can be entered as part of a formula in a cell of a worksheet.

Syntax

The syntax for the ACOS function in Microsoft Excel is:

ACOS( number )

Parameters or Arguments

number

A number between -1 and 1. It is the cosine of the angle that you wish to find.

Returns

The ACOS function returns a numeric value.

Applies To

• Excel for Office 365, Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2011 for Mac, Excel 2010, Excel 2007, Excel 2003, Excel XP, Excel 2000

Type of Function

• Worksheet function (WS)

Example (as Worksheet Function)

Let's look at some Excel ACOS function examples and explore how to use the ACOS function as a worksheet function in Microsoft Excel:

Based on the Excel spreadsheet above, the following ACOS examples would return:

=ACOS(A1)
Result: 2.498091545

=ACOS(A2)
Result: 1.570796327

=ACOS(A3)
Result: 0.722734248

=ACOS(0.2)
Result: 1.369438406