Find Slope of 1st Line w/ Given Data

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the slope of the first line given the slope of a second line, the angle between the two lines, and their intersection point. Participants explore relationships between slopes and angles, particularly through trigonometric functions.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Exploratory
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the relationship between the slope of a line and its tangent, suggesting that tangent theta equals slope.
  • There is a proposal that if the slope of the second line (m2) is known, one can find the angle it makes with the positive x-axis and then use that to find the slope of the first line.
  • One participant suggests using the formula theta = tan^-1(m2) to find the angle associated with the slope of the second line.
  • Another participant mentions the need to add the given angle between the lines to find the slope of the first line, proposing the formula m1 = tan(tan^-1(m2) + given angle).
  • An example is provided where m2 = 0.404 and the angle between the lines is 75 degrees, leading to a calculation of the slope of the first line.
  • Some participants express confusion about the hints and request clearer formulas or examples to illustrate the concepts discussed.
  • There is a request for visual aids to better understand the angle positions related to the slopes discussed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the use of trigonometric functions to relate slopes and angles, but there is no consensus on the clarity of the explanations or the specific formulas to use. Some participants express confusion and seek further clarification.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include varying levels of understanding of trigonometric concepts and the need for visual representations to aid comprehension. Some mathematical steps and assumptions remain unresolved.

markram987
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finding the slope??

how to find the slope of 1st line?. when 2nd line slope is given, angle between them is given, the intersection of the 2 lines are given also... any ideas?
see this
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1055/questionz.png
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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markram987 said:
how to find the slope of 1st line?. when 2nd line slope is given, angle between them is given, the intersection of the 2 lines are given also... any ideas?
see this
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1055/questionz.png

Do you know the relationship between the slope of a line and its tangent?
 
Last edited by a moderator:


chiro said:
Do you know the relationship between the slope of a line and its tangent?

you mean tangent theta= slope?? so what's the specific formulai can use?
 


Yes that's the formula.

So given that tan(theta) = m2 and given we know what m2 is, do you know how to get theta by itself? Do you know about inverse functions?

(Hint tan^-1(tan(theta)) = theta if 0 <= theta < pi))
 


chiro said:
(Hint tan^-1(tan(theta)) = theta if 0 <= theta < pi))

i didn't understand your hint.
the theta or angle are given and i know the high school inverse function..
i will thank you if you just let type the formula here or equate it to m1 and then i will think how it is derive.. if i didn't know i will ask you question^^
 


markram987 said:
i didn't understand your hint.
the theta or angle are given and i know the high school inverse function..
i will thank you if you just let type the formula here or equate it to m1 and then i will think how it is derive.. if i didn't know i will ask you question^^

Ok then I will give you the answer and go through it step by step.

As you may know the tangent is calculated using rise over a run. So basically if our tangent was +1 it means that if my x moves one unit to the right, then my y moves one unit up. If it was +2 it means if i move one unit to the right, then my y moves two units up.

If it was say -1, it means that if i move my x one unit to the right then my y goes down one.

Now going back to trigonometry of right angled triangles we know that tan = opposite over adjacent which is what the tangent is: remember its a line and if we form a triangle with our x and y we get a right angled triangle.

So you know that m2 = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1) = tan(theta).

So to find theta if we have m2, we use the formula:

theta = tan^-1(m2). If you haven't seen tan^-1 it means the "inverse tangent" and it is also called "arctan". If you have a calculator it will probably say "tan^-1).

So let's say your m2 was 1 for example.

theta = tan^-1(1) = 45 degrees.

Now you have gotten the angle for the line, you add the angle that you're given in your question and to get the slope of the line we are trying to find you calculate it using

Lets pretend the angle you are given is 90 degrees.

Your answer for finding slope for line 2 would be found by calculating:

m1 = tan(45 + 90) = tan(135) = -1.

Also if you're using a calculator make sure its set to degrees if you're working in degrees.
 


markram987 said:
you mean tangent theta= slope?? so what's the specific formulai can use?

... so, since you know the slope of line2, you can determine the angle it makes with the positive x-axis, right? Call that angle \alpha[/tex]<br /> <br /> Once you find that, simply add the angle \Theta[/tex] (the angle between the lines) to that (\beta = \Theta + \alpha)[/tex] and find the slope of the line that makes an angle of \beta[/tex] with the positive x-axis.
 


chiro said:
Ok then I will give you the answer and go through it step by step.

As you may know the tangent is calculated using rise over a run. So basically if our tangent was +1 it means that if my x moves one unit to the right, then my y moves one unit up. If it was +2 it means if i move one unit to the right, then my y moves two units up.

If it was say -1, it means that if i move my x one unit to the right then my y goes down one.

Now going back to trigonometry of right angled triangles we know that tan = opposite over adjacent which is what the tangent is: remember its a line and if we form a triangle with our x and y we get a right angled triangle.

So you know that m2 = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1) = tan(theta).

So to find theta if we have m2, we use the formula:

theta = tan^-1(m2). If you haven't seen tan^-1 it means the "inverse tangent" and it is also called "arctan". If you have a calculator it will probably say "tan^-1).

So let's say your m2 was 1 for example.

theta = tan^-1(1) = 45 degrees.

Now you have gotten the angle for the line, you add the angle that you're given in your question and to get the slope of the line we are trying to find you calculate it using

Lets pretend the angle you are given is 90 degrees.

Your answer for finding slope for line 2 would be found by calculating:

m1 = tan(45 + 90) = tan(135) = -1.

Also if you're using a calculator make sure its set to degrees if you're working in degrees.

thank you^^ you have nice tutorial...
did you mean that this is the right formula? m1 = tan((tan^-1(m2))+given angle) or m1 = tan(theta + given angle)

it is also the same with this formula tan(theta1-theta2)= ((m2-m1)/(1+(m1*m2)))?
 
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zgozvrm said:
... so, since you know the slope of line2, you can determine the angle it makes with the positive x-axis, right? Call that angle \alpha[/tex]<br /> <br /> Once you find that, simply add the angle \Theta[/tex] (the angle between the lines) to that (\beta = \Theta + \alpha)[/tex] and find the slope of the line that makes an angle of \beta[/tex] with the positive x-axis.
&amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt; can you give example?
 
  • #10


markram987 said:
can you give example?

We are given slope m2 and angle \Theta[/tex] between the two lines.<br /> <br /> <br /> Let&#039;s say we have m2 = 0.404 and \Theta = 75^\circ[/tex].&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Then we know that Line 2 makes an angle of \alpha = \tan ^{-1}(0.404) = 22^\circ[/tex] with the positive x-axis.&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt; The angle that line 1 makes with the positive x-axis is \beta = \alpha + \Theta = 22 + 75 = 97^\circ[/tex]&amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt; The slope of line 1 would then be \tan (\beta) = \tan(97^\circ) = -8.144[/tex]
 
  • #11


zgozvrm said:
We are given slope m2 and angle \Theta[/tex] between the two lines.Let&#039;s say we have m2 = 0.404 and \Theta = 75^\circ[/tex].&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Then we know that Line 2 makes an angle of \alpha = \tan ^{-1}(0.404) = 22^\circ[/tex] with the positive x-axis.&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt; The angle that line 1 makes with the positive x-axis is \beta = \alpha + \Theta = 22 + 75 = 97^\circ[/tex]&amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt; The slope of line 1 would then be \tan (\beta) = \tan(97^\circ) = -8.144[/tex]
&amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;gt; nice ,it is the same but a simple standard equation..&amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;gt; can u post a picture with that 22degree and 97degree because i can&amp;amp;amp;amp;#039;t imagine the angle positon..&amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;gt; ..
 
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  • #12


markram987 said:
nice ,it is the same but a simple standard equation..
can u post a picture with that 22degree and 97degree because i can't imagine the angle positon..
..

Sure! Here you are...
 

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