COS Function – Calc Cosine of Angle – Excel, VBA, G Sheets

Written by

Editorial Team

Reviewed by

Steve Rynearson

Last updated on November 7, 2023
Download Example Workbook

Download the example workbook

This tutorial demonstrates how to use the COS Function in Excel to calculate the cosine.

COS Main

COS Function Overview

The COS function calculates the cosine of an angle in radians.

Create a Cosine Curve

To create a cosine curve in Excel, we need to first choose our start and end points and then list out a lot of numbers. Let’s go from -2π up to 2π in increments of 0.1.

=COS(C3)

COS 01

Next, we’re going to add the 0.1 onto the angle and then calculate the cosine of that angle. Use the formula:

=C3+$G$2

COS 02

(the $ signs lock G2 so the formula will always reference that 0.1 even if we copy the formula!)

Now highlight both the new angle and cosine function that we’ve calculated, hold the handle, and drag it down until our angle reaches about 2π (about 6.28)

Highlight the entire range of both angles and cosines, click insert, find the graphs and select “Scatter with Smooth Lines”.

COS 03

Manipulating the cosine curve

Trigonometric curves can be manipulated in a few ways – vertical shift (shifting the curve up and down on the graph), phase shift (shifting the curve left and right), amplitude modulation (how high and low the peaks and troughs are), and wavelength/period modulation (how far along the x-axis the curve is stretched or compressed).

While we won’t go in depth about each of these, here are the basic ways to manipulate each of these. Keep an eye on the formula bar in the examples to see how it changes the curve compared to the original curve.

  1. Vertical shifting – Add a number after the function
=COS(number)+verticalShift

COS 04

2. Phase shifting – Add a number inside the argument of the function

=COS(number+phaseShift)

Phase shifting

3. Amplitude modulation – Multiply the function by a number

Amplitude modulation

4. Wavelength modulation – Multiply the argument by a numberWavelength modulation

COS in Google Sheets

The COS Function works exactly the same in Google Sheets as in Excel:

COS Google

COS Examples in VBA

You can also use the COS function in VBA. Type:

Dim val1 as double
val1 = cos(number)

AI Formula Generator

Try for Free

Excel Practice Worksheet

practice excel worksheet

Practice Excel functions and formulas with our 100% free practice worksheets!

  • Automatically Graded Exercises
  • Learn Excel, Inside Excel!

Free Download

Return to List of Excel Functions