Quick question on arctan(1)

[Lugnut]

it looks like basic algebra, but i'm probably missing something big time

Part of my calculus work requires me to calculate this. I am finding places telling me arctan(1)=x is tan(x)=1, but then they make the leap to "tan(pi/4)=1". I'm not sure how they are getting to this point. The explanations are a bit... confusing...

oh. now i get why you're confused
on a ti 84,
tan(pi/4) --> 1
tan^-1(1) --> 0.7853981634

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[MegaScientifical]

The -1 means inverse, but it is put in the same place as exponents, so it's more confusing. arcNAME is an older way of referring to it. My teacher says people are starting to use it again, and I'd rather use that over a false exponent.