The Math.tan() method in JavaScript is used to compute the tangent of a given number. The tangent function is one of the most fundamental trigonometric functions, which calculates the ratio of the opposite side to the adjacent side of a right triangle. In the context of the unit circle, it is the ratio of the sine to the cosine of an angle.
Syntax
Math.tan(x);Parameters
- x (Required): A number representing the angle in radians. This is the value for which the tangent will be calculated. The value of
xcan be any valid number, including positive or negative numbers, and can even be0.
Return Value
The Math.tan() method returns a number that represents the tangent of the input value. The output can be any real number, including:
- Positive values when the angle is in the range of 0 to π/2 (first quadrant).
- Negative values when the angle is in the range of π to 3π/2 (third quadrant).
- The function approaches infinity (∞) at angles where cos(x) is zero, such as π/2, 3π/2, etc.
Special Cases
- If the input is 0, the result will also be 0.
- For very large positive or negative input values, the tangent function’s result may approach a very large value or infinity.
Example 1: Basic example to use Math.tan() method.
let result = Math.tan(0); console.log(result); // Output: 0
Since the tangent of 0 radians is 0, the result is 0.
Example 2: Using a positive angle in Math.tan() method.
let result = Math.tan(Math.PI / 4); console.log(result); // Output: 1
Example 3: Using a negative angle in Math.tan() method.
let result = Math.tan(-Math.PI / 4); console.log(result); // Output: -1
Example 4: Angle Leading to Infinity.
let result = Math.tan(Math.PI / 2); console.log(result); // Output: Infinity
Supported Browsers
| Browser | Version Supported |
|---|---|
| Chrome | 1.0+ |
| Firefox | 3.5+ |
| Safari | 4.0+ |
| Edge | 12+ |
| Internet Explorer | 9+ |
| Opera | 10.50+ |