# Angle Between Two Planes

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1. Jan 11, 2015

### Bassa

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
I am preparing for my calculus III class over the break. I came across the formula for the angle between two planes which is:

cosΘ = (|a.b|)/(||a|||b||)

2. Relevant equations
cosΘ = (|a.b|)/(||a|||b||)
a.b = ||a||||b||cosΘ

3. The attempt at a solution
I know that the dot product formula is:

a.b = ||a||||b||cosΘ

Why do we put the absolute value bars when we are trying to find the angle between two planes if the original formula doesn't have absolute values in it?

2. Jan 11, 2015

### LCKurtz

That is the formula for the angle between two vectors. You haven't told us what a and b are but I would presume you mean for them to be the normal vectors to the plane. Remember that the angle between two vectors can be from $0$ to $\pi$, but the angle between two planes in never greater than $\pi / 2$. If your cosine comes out negative that means the angle between the normals is greater than $\pi /2$ and you want its supplement. Dropping the negative sign will give you that.

3. Jan 11, 2015

### Bassa

Thank you very much for this thorough explanation!

4. Jan 11, 2015

### Bassa

Well, now come to think about it more intently, why can the angle between two planes not be more than 90 degrees? I could imagine many intersecting planes having an angle more than 90 degrees between them.

5. Jan 11, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

Because there is also an acute angle that is formed, that is the supplement of the angle of more than 90°.