Coordinate of side of a irregular polgyon

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the coordinates of the vertices of an irregular polygon using line lengths and angles between segments. The key formula provided for determining the coordinates is based on accumulating changes in X and Y from a defined starting point, specifically using the equations x1 = x0 + sin(B0)*L0 and x2 = x1 + sin(B1)*L1, where B represents the angles and L represents the lengths. The importance of understanding the initial conditions, such as the starting point and the nature of the angles (bearings or adjacent segment angles), is emphasized for accurate calculations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of trigonometric functions, specifically sine and tangent.
  • Familiarity with coordinate geometry and vertex calculations.
  • Knowledge of angle measurement in relation to polygon segments.
  • Basic programming or mathematical modeling skills for implementing formulas.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research "trigonometric functions in coordinate geometry" for deeper insights.
  • Learn about "accumulating changes in coordinates" for polygon vertex calculations.
  • Explore "polygon angle calculations" to differentiate between segment bearings and adjacent angles.
  • Investigate "mathematical modeling for irregular shapes" to enhance understanding of complex polygons.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for mathematicians, engineers, and computer graphics developers who need to compute the coordinates of irregular polygons based on line lengths and angles.

NotASmurf
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Hey all, I have a list of line lengths and angles, but only the angles between line n and n-1, can't find a single expression to get the coordinate that works for all cases, i tried
\sum{\sqrt{\frac{L^2 -c^2}{tan(\sum{\theta})^2+1}}} and similar expressions but they all assume triangles can be constructed for each out of straight line functions, which isn't the case, any help appreciated.
 
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I'm not sure I understand what you have and what you are trying to compute.

Here are some questions:
What is the list of line angles? Is it the angle between adjacent segments? Or is it the bearing of each segment?
If it's the angle between adjacent segments, you need the bearing on one segment.

You will also need the starting point. For example, perhaps the vertex between the first and last segment is at (0,0).

Finally, the coordinates of the other vertices can be determined by accumulating changes in X and Y from your starting point.
x1 = x0 + sin(B0)*L0
x2 = x1 + sin(B1)*L1
...

where B0, B1, ... are the angle of the lines clockwise from the X axis and the L's are the lengths.

But the key is to determine exactly what you are starting with in the way of information.
 

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