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# atan2, atan2f, atan2l

From cppreference.com
< c‎ | numeric‎ | math

Defined in header `<math.h>` |  |
float atan2f( float y, float x ); | (1) | (since C99)
double atan2( double y, double x ); | (2) |
long double atan2l( long double y, long double x ); | (3) | (since C99)
Defined in header `<tgmath.h>` |  |
#define atan2( arg ) | (4) | (since C99)

1-3) Computes the arc tangent of `y/x` using the signs of arguments to determine the correct quadrant.
4) Type-generic macro: If the argument has type long double, `atan2l` is called. Otherwise, if the argument has integer type or the type double, `atan2` is called. Otherwise, `atan2f` is called.

### [edit] Parameters

x, y | - | floating point value

### [edit] Return value

If no errors occur, the arc tangent of `y/x` (arctan(

y
x

)) in the range [-π ; +π] radians, is returned.
Y argument
Return value
X argument

If a domain error occurs, an implementation-defined value is returned.

If a range error occurs due to underflow, the correct result (after rounding) is returned.

### [edit] Error handling

Errors are reported as specified in math_errhandling.

Domain error may occur if `x` and `y` are both zero.

If the implementation supports IEEE floating-point arithmetic (IEC 60559),

- If `x` and `y` are both zero, domain error does not occur
- If `x` and `y` are both zero, range error does not occur either
- If `y` is zero, pole error does not occur
- If `y` is `±0` and `x` is negative or `-0`, `±π` is returned
- If `y` is `±0` and `x` is positive or `+0`, `±0` is returned
- If `y` is `±∞` and `x` is finite, `±π/2` is returned
- If `y` is `±∞` and `x` is `-∞`, `±3π/4` is returned
- If `y` is `±∞` and `x` is `+∞`, `±π/4` is returned
- If `x` is `±0` and `y` is negative, `-π/2` is returned
- If `x` is `±0` and `y` is positive, `+π/2` is returned
- If `x` is `-∞` and `y` is finite and positive, `+π` is returned
- If `x` is `-∞` and `y` is finite and negative, `-π` is returned
- If `x` is `+∞` and `y` is finite and positive, `+0` is returned
- If `x` is `+∞` and `y` is finite and negative, `-0` is returned
- If either `x` is NaN or `y` is NaN, NaN is returned

### [edit] Notes

atan2(y, x) is equivalent to carg(x + I*y).

POSIX specifies that in case of underflow, `y/x` is the value returned, and if that is not supported, an implementation-defined value no greater than DBL_MIN, FLT_MIN, and LDBL_MIN is returned.

### [edit] Example

Run this code

    #include <stdio.h>
    #include <math.h>

    int main(void)
    {
        // normal usage: the signs of the two arguments determine the quadrant
        // atan2(1,1) = +pi/4, Quad I
        printf("(+1,+1) cartesian is (%f,%f) polar\n", hypot( 1, 1), atan2( 1, 1));
        // atan2(1, -1) = +3pi/4, Quad II
        printf("(+1,-1) cartesian is (%f,%f) polar\n", hypot( 1,-1), atan2( 1,-1));
        // atan2(-1,-1) = -3pi/4, Quad III
        printf("(-1,-1) cartesian is (%f,%f) polar\n", hypot(-1,-1), atan2(-1,-1));
        // atan2(-1,-1) = -pi/4, Quad IV
        printf("(-1,+1) cartesian is (%f,%f) polar\n", hypot(-1, 1), atan2(-1, 1));

        // special values
        printf("atan2(0, 0) = %f atan2(0, -0)=%f\n", atan2(0,0), atan2(0,-0.0));
        printf("atan2(7, 0) = %f atan2(7, -0)=%f\n", atan2(7,0), atan2(7,-0.0));
    }

Output:

    (+1,+1) cartesian is (1.414214,0.785398) polar
    (+1,-1) cartesian is (1.414214,2.356194) polar
    (-1,-1) cartesian is (1.414214,-2.356194) polar
    (-1,+1) cartesian is (1.414214,-0.785398) polar
    atan2(0, 0) = 0.000000 atan2(0, -0)=3.141593
    atan2(7, 0) = 1.570796 atan2(7, -0)=1.570796

### [edit] References

- C11 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:2011):

  - 7.12.4.4 The atan2 functions (p: 239)

  - 7.25 Type-generic math <tgmath.h> (p: 373-375)

  - F.10.1.4 The atan2 functions (p: 519)

- C99 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:1999):

  - 7.12.4.4 The atan2 functions (p: 219)

  - 7.22 Type-generic math <tgmath.h> (p: 335-337)

  - F.9.1.4 The atan2 functions (p: 456)

- C89/C90 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:1990):

  - 4.5.2.4 The atan2 function

### [edit] See also

asin asinf asinl (C99)(C99) | computes arc sine (arcsin(x)) (function) [edit]
acos acosf acosl (C99)(C99) | computes arc cosine (arccos(x)) (function) [edit]
atan atanf atanl (C99)(C99) | computes arc tangent (arctan(x)) (function) [edit]
carg cargf cargl (C99)(C99)(C99) | computes the phase angle of a complex number (function) [edit]
C++ documentation for atan2

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