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Re: Problem with finding angles between points in Cartesian plane

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg26136] Re: Problem with finding angles between points in Cartesian plane
  • From: "Drago Ganic" <drago.ganic at in2.hr>
  • Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 01:56:34 -0500 (EST)
  • References: <8vfqv9$jif@smc.vnet.net>
  • Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

Hi,

use the ArcTan[dx,dy] instead of ArcTan[dy/dx]. 

Lookup the help browser !

Greetings from Croatia,
Drago Ganic


"Blitzer" <drek1976 at yahoo.com> wrote in message news:8vfqv9$jif at smc.vnet.net...
> I would like to find the angle between 2 points on the Cartesian plane.
> However, if I use "ArcTan", it is not able to recognise that points with the
> same x-coordinates have an angle of 90 degrees between them. It returns
> "Indeterminate".
> eg. for a point A (x1, y1) and a point (x1, y2), to find the angle between
> them, I use ArcTan[(y2-y1)/(x1-x1)]. However, as the denominator is equal to
> "0", this function returns "indeterminate". Is there a way to get around
> this problem? Or is there other possible functions which can be used.
> I am dealing with a very large array of numbers and thus, it's not possible
> to check the coordinates individually.
> 
> Would be grateful for any help rendered. Thanks!
> 
> Derek
> 
> 
> 
> 



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