How to Use SIN Function in Excel (6 Easy Examples)

The SIN function is used to determine the sine of angles in Excel. By default, the SIN function accepts the angles in radians. However, with the help of the other functions, you can insert angles both in radians as well as degrees. To assist you with that, in this article, we are going to discuss the use of the SIN function in Excel with 6 suitable examples.

The above screenshot is an overview of the article, representing a few applications of the SIN function in Excel. You’ll learn more about the methods along with the other functions to use the SIN function precisely in the following sections of this article.

SIN Function in Excel: Syntax

• Function Objective:

The SIN function is used to determine the sine of angles in Excel.

• Syntax:

=SIN(number)

• Arguments Explanation:

• Return Parameter:

Sine value of the given angles.

What is Sine in Trigonometry?

The Sine ratio in trigonometry is a ratio between the hypotenuse and the opposite of a triangle.

For the above picture, sin(a)=Hypotenuse/Opposite

Depending on the input values, the usage of the SIN function falls into two main categories. The first one is input angles in radians which is the default angle metric for the SIN function. The second one is angled in degrees. In the following sections, we will discuss both categories one by one.

We will also discuss the SIN function in Excel VBA. So, without having any further discussion, let’s jump straight into all of the examples one by one.

1. Using SIN Function in Excel for Angles in Radians

When you want to insert angles in radians, then the usage of the SIN function is super easy. Because the SIN function can work with the angles in radians by default. Anyways follow the steps below to see how to use the SIN function for angles in radians.

🔗 Steps:

❶ Select cell C5 ▶ to store the formula result.

❷ Then enter the formula within the cell:

❸ Now press the ENTER button ▶ to execute the formula.

❹ Finally, finish the whole process the dragging the Fill Handle icon to the end of the sine column.

That’s all you need to do. Anyways, when you are done with all the steps mentioned above, you will see the end result as in the picture below:

As we can see in the above picture, the sine of the given angles is long fraction values. It’s not always convenient to use.

So, if you want you can trim those long numbers at your own convenience using the ROUND function. All you need to do is:

🔗 Steps:

❶ Click on cell D5 ▶ to store the formula result.

❷ Then type the formula within the cell:

❸ Press the ENTER button ▶ to execute the formula.

❹ Finally, finish the whole process the dragging the Fill Handle icon to the end of the sine column.

That’s all you need to do. Anyways, when you are done with all the steps mentioned above, you will see the end result as in the picture below:

2. Applying SIN Function for Angles in Degrees

When you have angles in degrees, then to calculate the Sine of the angles you have to perform some extra task. That is to convert the angle from degree to radian. As SIN function accepts only angles in radians.

So we can convert the angles in degrees in two different ways. The first one is using the RADIAN function. This is a built-in function inside Microsoft Excel that you can convert angles in degrees into angles in radians within a bleak of an eye.

Now the below steps will guide you to do so.

🔗 Steps:

❶ Click on cell C5 ▶ to store the formula result.

❷ Now enter the following formula in cell C5:

❸ Hit the ENTER button ▶ to execute the formula.

❹ At last, drag the Fill Handle icon to the end of the sine column.

That’s all you need to do. Anyways, when you are done with all the steps mentioned above, you will see the end result as in the picture below:

3. Combining SIN and PI Functions in Excel for Angles in Degrees

There’s another way to convert the angles in degrees into angles in radians. All you need to do is multiply the angles with PI()/180. Lemme show you the whole process step by step:

🔗 Steps:

❶ Firstly select cell C5 ▶ to store the formula result.

❷ Then enter the formula:

❸ Now press the ENTER button ▶ to execute the formula.

❹ Finally, finish the whole process the dragging the Fill Handle icon to the end of the sine column.

That’s all you need to do. Anyways, when you are done with all the steps mentioned above, you will see the end result as in the picture below:

As we can see in the above picture, the sine of the given angles is long fraction values. It’s not always convenient to use.

So, if you want you can trim those long numbers into your own convenience using the ROUND function. All you need to do is:

🔗 Steps:

❶ Select cell D5 ▶ to store the formula result.

❷ Then enter the formula:

❸ Now press the ENTER button ▶ to execute the formula.

❹ Finally, finish the whole process the dragging the Fill Handle icon to the end of the sine column.

That’s all you need to do. Anyways, when you are done with all the steps mentioned above, you will see the end result as in the picture below:

4. Calculating the Height of a Building Using Excel SIN Function

We can calculate a building’s height using the SIN function. For example, the height of a building is h. It has produced a shadow of length 50m. The imaginary connection line between the height of the building and the shadow has produced an angle of 0.5 rad with the shadow. Now let’s calculate the building height.

🔗 Steps:

❶ Click on cell C7 ▶ to store the formula result.

❷ Then enter the formula:

❸ Now press the ENTER button ▶ to execute the formula.

Now you can see that the height of the building is 23.97m.

5. Solving an Equation with the SIN Function in Excel

Now we will follow the equation below using the SIN and the COS function in Excel.

Type all the formulas as mentioned in the picture below:

When you are done with the writing, you will see the result as follow:

6. Applying SIN Function in Excel VBA Macros

To implement the SIN function in VBA follow the steps below:

🔗 Steps:

❶ Press ALT + F11 to open the VBA editor.

❷ Go to Insert ▶ Module.

❸ Copy the following code:

Sub CalSin()

Dim sin_val1 As Double

Dim sin_val2 As Double

Dim sin_val3 As Double

sin_val1 = Sin(90)

Cells(5, 3).Value = sin_val1

sin_val2 = Sin(45)

Cells(6, 3).Value = sin_val2

sin_val3 = Sin(0)

Cells(7, 3).Value = sin_val3

End Sub

❹ Paste and save the code.

❺ Go back to your Excel worksheet.

❻ Press ALT + F8 to open Macro.

❼ Run the function.

When you are done with all the steps above, you will see the below result:

Things to Remember

📌 The SIN function expects the angles in radians.

📌 For the angles in degrees, you must convert the angles into radians either by using the RADIAN function or multiplying the angle with PI()/180.

Download Practice Workbook

You are recommended to download the Excel file and practice along with it.

Conclusion

To sum up, we have discussed the usage of the Excel SIN function with 6 suitable examples. You are recommended to download the practice workbook attached along with this article and practice all the methods with that. And don’t hesitate to ask any questions in the comment section below. We will try to respond to all the relevant queries asap.

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