1. What is the Arctangent Function?

The arctangent function (atan or tan⁻¹) is the inverse of the tangent function. It calculates the angle whose tangent is the ratio of the opposite side to the adjacent side in a right triangle.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the arctangent formula:

Where:

• \( \theta \) — Angle in degrees
• opposite — Length of the side opposite to the angle
• adjacent — Length of the side adjacent to the angle

Explanation: The function takes the ratio of opposite to adjacent sides and returns the corresponding angle in radians, which is then converted to degrees.

3. Importance of Angle Calculation

Details: Calculating angles is fundamental in trigonometry, physics, engineering, and navigation. It's essential for solving right triangle problems and determining directions or inclinations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the lengths of the opposite and adjacent sides in any consistent units. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the range of angles this can calculate?
A: The calculator returns angles between 0° and 90° for positive inputs.

Q2: Can I use this for non-right triangles?
A: No, this formula only works for right triangles. For other triangles, use the Law of Cosines or Law of Sines.

Q3: What if my angle is in radians?
A: You can convert degrees to radians by multiplying by π/180.

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The calculation uses PHP's built-in atan() function which is very accurate for most practical purposes.

Q5: What if both sides are zero?
A: The calculator requires positive values for both sides as division by zero is undefined.