The Excel SINH function returns the hyperbolic sine of a number, defined as (e^x − e^−x) / 2. The argument is a plain number, not an angle in degrees.
Syntax
| Argument | Description | |
|---|---|---|
number | Required | Any real number. SINH grows rapidly for large magnitudes, so very large inputs can overflow to a #NUM! error. |
How to use it
The hyperbolic sine is built from the exponential function: SINH(x) = (EXP(x) - EXP(-x)) / 2. Unlike the circular trig functions, there is no degree-vs-radian issue — you pass a plain number:
SINH is an odd function: SINH(-x) = -SINH(x). Its inverse is ASINH, and it pairs with COSH and TANH for the other hyperbolic ratios.
Hyperbolic, not circular. These functions describe a hyperbola rather than a circle and appear in catenary curves, engineering, and statistics — not in angle geometry, so RADIANS is never needed here.
Try it: interactive demo
Pick a SINH example to see the formula and its result.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
What is the hyperbolic sine?
SINH(x) = (e^x - e^-x) / 2. It describes a hyperbola rather than a circle and shows up in catenary cables, physics, and statistics.Does SINH use degrees or radians?
What is the inverse of SINH?
ASINH (inverse hyperbolic sine) returns the number whose hyperbolic sine is a given value.Why does SINH return a #NUM! error for big inputs?
#NUM!.Master functions like this in one day
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