Microsoft KB Archive/127939

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

MXL5: TAN Function Returns Incorrect Result
Last reviewed: September 12, 1996

Article ID: Q127939

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for the Power Macintosh, version 5.0

SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, when you use the TAN function to return the tangent of a given angle, the value returned may be incorrect.

CAUSE
This problem occurs if the angle you use in the TAN function contains the value -PI divided by the value 2, 3 or 4, that is, -PI/2, -PI/3 or - PI/4. For example, if you use the angle -PI/4, the TAN function returns the value 1, instead of the correct value, -1.

Note that this problem only occurs in Microsoft Excel for the Power Macintosh; this problem does not occur in Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh (68K version).

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Excel version 5.0a for the Macintosh.