Power Pivot Principles: The A to Z of DAX Functions – ACOT

In our long-established Power Pivot Principles articles, we are starting a new series on the A to Z of Data Analysis eXpression (DAX) functions. This week it’s ACOT without a baby…

The ACOT function

This function returns the principal value of the arccotangent (inverse cotangent) of a number (which is not the same as the reciprocal of the cotangent). This needs some explanation. Consider a right-angled triangle, where x is the angle CAB:

Using the age-old mathematics mnemonic SOHCAHTOA, we get:

• sin x = opposite / longest side (hypotenuse) = a/h
• cos x = adjacent / hypotenuse = b/h
• tan x = opposite / adjacent = a/b
• cotan x = 1 / tan x = adjacent / opposite = b/a
• arccotan y = cotan^-1 y is the angle whose cotangent is y.

This may be charted as follows:

The syntax is very simple:

There is only one argument:

• number: the cotangent of the angle you want.

Please see my example below:

Again, this is pretty straightforward.

Come back next week for our next post on Power Pivot in the Blog section. In the meantime, please remember we have training in Power Pivot which you can find out more about here. If you wish to catch up on past articles in the meantime, you can find all of our Past Power Pivot blogs here.