1. What is the Angle Calculation From Two Points?

The angle calculation from two points determines the direction angle between two points in a 2D coordinate system using the arctangent function (atan2). This provides the angle in radians or degrees relative to the positive x-axis.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the atan2 formula:

Where:

• \( dy \) — Difference in y-coordinates (y₂ - y₁)
• \( dx \) — Difference in x-coordinates (x₂ - x₁)

Explanation: The atan2 function calculates the angle between the positive x-axis and the point (dx, dy), handling all four quadrants correctly and avoiding division by zero issues.

3. Importance of Angle Calculation

Details: Angle calculation is fundamental in geometry, computer graphics, robotics, navigation, and physics for determining directions, orientations, and relationships between points in 2D space.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the differences in coordinates (dy and dx). Both values can be positive, negative, or zero. The calculator handles all quadrant cases correctly.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the range of angles returned by atan2?
A: atan2 returns angles in the range of -π to π radians (-180° to 180°).

Q2: How does atan2 differ from regular arctan?
A: atan2 takes both dy and dx as separate parameters, handles all quadrants correctly, and avoids division by zero errors that can occur with atan(dy/dx).

Q3: What angle is returned when both dx and dy are zero?
A: This is an undefined case (the origin point). Most implementations return 0, but it's mathematically undefined.

Q4: How are negative angles interpreted?
A: Negative angles represent clockwise rotation from the positive x-axis, while positive angles represent counterclockwise rotation.

Q5: Can this be used for 3D angle calculations?
A: No, this is specifically for 2D coordinates. 3D angle calculations require additional trigonometric functions and considerations.