ATAN2 Function (OpenOffice Calc)
The ATAN2 function in OpenOffice Calc returns the angle (in radians) from the X-axis to a point (x, y), with full quadrant awareness. Learn syntax, vector-angle usage, examples, and best practices.
Compatibility
▾| Excel | ✔ |
| Gnumeric | ✔ |
| Google_sheets | ✔ |
| Libreoffice | ✔ |
| Numbers | ✔ |
| Onlyoffice | ✔ |
| Openoffice | ✔ |
| Wps | ✔ |
| Zoho | ✔ |
What the ATAN2 Function Does ▾
- Computes the angle of a vector (x, y)
- Output is in radians
- Handles all four quadrants
- Avoids division‑by‑zero errors
- Works across sheets
ATAN2 is ideal when you need true directional angles.
Syntax ▾
ATAN2(NumberX; NumberY)
Arguments:
- NumberX — The X coordinate
- NumberY — The Y coordinate
ATAN2 returns an angle in radians.
Convert to degrees using:
Convert to degrees using:
ATAN2(x; y) * 180 / PI()
Output Range ▾
ATAN2 returns angles in the range:
[ -\pi < \theta \le \pi ]
This covers all four quadrants.
Quadrant Behavior ▾
| X | Y | Quadrant | Angle Returned |
|---|---|---|---|
| + | + | I | 0 to +π/2 |
| − | + | II | +π/2 to +π |
| − | − | III | −π to −π/2 |
| + | − | IV | −π/2 to 0 |
| 0 | + | Positive Y‑axis | +π/2 |
| 0 | − | Negative Y‑axis | −π/2 |
| + | 0 | Positive X‑axis | 0 |
| − | 0 | Negative X‑axis | ±π |
Basic Examples ▾
Angle of vector (1, 1)
=ATAN2(1; 1)
Result (radians): 0.785398163
Equivalent to 45°.
Convert to degrees
=ATAN2(1; 1) * 180 / PI()
Angle of vector using cell references
=ATAN2(A1; B1)
Angle of vector (−1, 1)
=ATAN2(-1; 1)
Result: 135° (in radians)
Advanced Examples ▾
Compute angle of a 2D vector
=ATAN2(X; Y)
Convert angle to degrees
=DEGREES(ATAN2(X; Y))
Normalize angle to 0–360°
=MOD(DEGREES(ATAN2(X; Y)) + 360; 360)
Compute direction between two points
=ATAN2(X2 - X1; Y2 - Y1)
Robotics / navigation heading
=MOD(DEGREES(ATAN2(TargetX - X; TargetY - Y)) + 360; 360)
ATAN2 across sheets
=ATAN2(Sheet1.A1; Sheet1.B1)
ATAN2 in array formulas
=ATAN2(A1:A10; B1:B10)
Confirm with Ctrl+Shift+Enter.
Compute angle between two vectors
[ \theta = \text{atan2}(x_1 y_2 - y_1 x_2,\ x_1 x_2 + y_1 y_2) ]
Calc:
=ATAN2(x1*y2 - y1*x2; x1*x2 + y1*y2)
Convert polar → Cartesian
X:
=Radius * COS(AngleRadians)
Y:
=Radius * SIN(AngleRadians)
Convert Cartesian → polar
Angle:
=ATAN2(X; Y)
Radius:
=SQRT(X^2 + Y^2)
Common Errors and Fixes ▾
ATAN2 returns Err:502 (Invalid argument)
Occurs when:
- X or Y is text
- X or Y is empty
- A malformed reference is used
ATAN2 returns unexpected angles
Possible causes:
- Forgetting that output is in radians
- Using ATAN instead of ATAN2
- Mixing up argument order (Calc uses ATAN2(X; Y))
- Expecting 0–360° instead of −π to +π
ATAN2 ignores values you expected it to include
ATAN2 ignores:
- Text numbers (
"123") - Empty cells
- Logical values
- Errors
ATAN2 includes values you expected it to ignore
ATAN2 includes:
- Dates
- Times
- Numeric results of formulas
Err:508 — Missing parenthesis
Usually caused by:
- Missing
) - Using commas instead of semicolons
Best Practices ▾
- Use ATAN2 for true vector angles
- Convert radians to degrees when needed
- Normalize angles to 0–360° for navigation
- Use named ranges for coordinates
- Prefer ATAN2 over ATAN for any 2D geometry
If you’re working with directions, vectors, or rotations, ATAN2 is the gold standard — ATAN can’t tell you the quadrant, but ATAN2 always can.