[Date Index] [Thread Index] [Author Index]

Re: sum of the angle in a 4th dim triangle

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg26368] Re: sum of the angle in a 4th dim triangle
• From: Jens-Peer Kuska <kuska at informatik.uni-leipzig.de>
• Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2000 02:41:26 -0500 (EST)
• Organization: Universitaet Leipzig
• References: <911fu3$9u7@smc.vnet.net>
• Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

Hi,

you are using a complete new formula for the angle between
two vectors. Since

Dot[a,b]==Sqrt[Dot[a,a]]*Sqrt[Dot[b,b]]*Cos[alpha]

the correct definition is

angle[a_, b_] := ArcCos[Dot[a, b]/(Sqrt[Dot[a, a]]*Sqrt[Dot[b, b]])]

and 

angle[P - Q, R - Q] + angle[P - R, Q - R] + angle[R - P, Q - P] // N

gives  3.14159...

Due to your new relation the old result can't reproduced.


Regards
  Jens

BTW: Why is

 ArcCos[-1/14] + 2*ArcCos[Sqrt[15/7]/2]

not simplifed to Pi ??


Jacky Vaillancourt wrote:
> 
> Hi, i have a basic problem. I can't see my mistake can somebody help me?
> 
> Here's the problem:
> I want to calculate each angle of the triangle formed by those three dots.
> P:=(0,1,0,1), Q:=(3,2,-2,1), R:=(3,5,-1,3)
> 
> u:=PQ -> (3-0,2-1,-2-0,1-1) -> (3,1,-2,0)
> v:=QR -> (3-3,5-2,-1-(-2),3-1) -> (0,3,1,2)
> w:=PR -> (3-0,5-1,-1-0,3-1) -> (3,4,-1,2)
> 
> The formula to have the angle between tho vector is:
>     ARCCOS(ABS(DOTPROD(u,v))/(length(u)*length(v))
> 
> The formula to calculate the length is SQRT(a^2+b^2+c^2+d^2)
> 
> So, the angle between u and v is:
>             ARCCOS(ABS(15)/(SQRT(14)*SQRT(30))) = 42.95 deg
> 
> the angle between v and w is:
>             ARCCOS(ABS(-15)/(SQRT(30)*SQRT(14)))= 42.95 deg
> 
> the angle between u and w is:
>             ARCCOS(ABS(-1)/(SQRT(30)*SQRT(14)))= 85.9 deg
> 
> Here's the problem 180-85.9-42.95-42.95= 8.2 deg
> 
> I'm missing 8.2 deg....
> 
> I hope you'll understand what i wrote, i'm not used to write in englis...
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Jacky