How to derive it
- In a right isosceles triangle with legs 1, the hypotenuse is √2 and both other angles are 45°.
- tan = opposite ÷ adjacent, so tan 45° = 1.
All trig ratios of 45°
| Ratio | Exact | Decimal |
|---|---|---|
| sin 45° | 1/√2 | 0.7071 |
| cos 45° | 1/√2 | 0.7071 |
| tan 45° | 1 | 1.0000 |
| cosec 45° | 1 ÷ sin 45° | 1.4142 |
| sec 45° | 1 ÷ cos 45° | 1.4142 |
| cot 45° | 1 ÷ tan 45° | 1.0000 |
Exact values of special angles
For whole-degree values from 0° to 90°, see the trigonometry table.
Questions students ask
What is the value of tan 45°?
1, which is about 1.0000.
What is tan 45° in radians?
45° is π/4 radians, so tan(π/4) = 1.
Is tan 45° equal to cot 45°?
Yes. tan θ = cot(90° − θ), so tan 45° = cot 45°.