1. What is an Angle Between Two Points Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines the angle (in degrees) between two points in a 2D plane, measured from the positive x-axis.

Purpose: It's useful for geometry, computer graphics, navigation, and engineering applications where directional relationships between points are needed.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the arctangent function (atan2) with the formula:

Where:

• \( \theta \) — Angle in degrees (0° to 360°)
• \( (x_1, y_1) \) — Coordinates of the first point
• \( (x_2, y_2) \) — Coordinates of the second point

Explanation: The function calculates the angle between the positive x-axis and the line connecting the two points, with counter-clockwise being positive.

3. Importance of Angle Calculation

Details: Knowing the angle between points is essential for determining direction, orientation, and relationships between objects in 2D space.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the coordinates of both points. The angle is calculated from point 1 to point 2. The result is in degrees (0° to 360°).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What coordinate system does this use?
A: It uses standard Cartesian coordinates with x increasing to the right and y increasing upwards.

Q2: What's the range of the angle output?
A: The angle ranges from -180° to +180° (or equivalently 0° to 360°), with 0° pointing right along the positive x-axis.

Q3: How is this different from simple arctangent?
A: The atan2 function properly handles all quadrants and avoids division-by-zero issues that occur with simple arctangent.

Q4: Can I use this for 3D points?
A: No, this calculator is for 2D points only. For 3D, you would need additional calculations involving all three coordinates.

Q5: What if my points are the same?
A: The angle is undefined when both points are identical (division by zero would occur).