Resolving angle of parallelogram in 3D space

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the angle of a parallelogram in 3D space, specifically addressing the challenges faced by a hobbyist model maker named Naton. Naton attempted to apply trigonometry and divide the shape into triangles but found these methods inadequate for determining the angle. A participant suggested that the parallelogram's angle may be influenced by the angle between the planes of a right-angle triangle, indicating that the geometry may not be fully specified. This highlights the complexity of 3D trigonometry in model making.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic trigonometry principles
  • Familiarity with 3D geometry concepts
  • Knowledge of parallelogram properties
  • Experience with visualizing geometric transformations
NEXT STEPS
  • Study 3D trigonometry techniques for angle calculations
  • Learn about the properties and applications of parallelograms in geometry
  • Explore geometric transformations and their effects on angles
  • Research methods for visualizing complex geometric shapes
USEFUL FOR

Hobbyist model makers, students studying geometry, and anyone interested in applying trigonometry to 3D shapes will benefit from this discussion.

Naton
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Hi there,

I'm doing a bit of amateur scale model making as a hobby, building shapes out of flat-cut pieces. Trigonometry is a huge help with this, but I've hit a snag where I'm trying to calculate the angle of a particular parallelogram so it fits with the rest of the geometry.

1. Homework Statement

I've mocked up all of the variables from my situation into the following diagram with the angle I'm trying to determine marked as x:

https://zirung-sn3301.files.1drv.com/y3mjpry3qkCccqFTsqO8r5FMSn5iW1EOxg8zIyxIwBWd-K9eOxx_xsxBwu3Jqhu9f4S4W5EPP40fJnMqGBNe_ld4sSOf2zYCl0gRIAsvEUn3f_Za9Wg1nwQVSdFTg8TN3ifwWz6V0saeSPCEGmylsD_qxfzYBPptIN1dp5gQdHsuj8/math.jpg

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


I have attempted to divide the shape into triangles so I can apply trigonometry to the problem, and even experimented with 3D trigonometry, however neither seemed applicable to finding a solution.
I know I haven't provided enough to deserve a full solution, but if anyone could point me in the direction of which mathematical principles I would need to study in order to solve this, I would be grateful and happy to read up on them and come back with my work (after all, I will need to do perform similar tasks in the future, so there's no point in just getting the answer to this one without learning to do it myself).

Thank you for your time,

-Naton
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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I think the shape may be incompletely specified.
Call the parallelogram with the 65 and 115 degree angles P, and call the top right-angle triangle T.
Then the angle between the planes of T and P can change without disturbing any of the given measurements. We can visualize this with P being like a hanging sign that swings on hinges attached to the ##\sqrt{3}##-length side of T.
I think that, as that angle changes, the angle x will change.
 

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