Sorry for the pretty dumb question. I'm slowly learning maths from scratch.

I would like to calculate the angle of triangle through javascript.

I calculate the lengths of the sides,

Ab = Math.abs(b.x - c.x);
Ac = Math.abs(b.y - c.y);

A = Math.sqrt((Ab*Ab) + (Ac*Ac));

Bb = Math.abs(a.x - c.x);
Bc = Math.abs(a.y - c.y);

B = Math.sqrt((Bb*Bb) + (Bc*Bc));

Cb = Math.abs(a.x - b.x);
Cc = Math.abs(a.y - b.y);

C = Math.sqrt((Cb*Cb) + (Cc*Cc));

And then I get to this point:

angleB = Math.cos(((C*C) + (A*A) - (B*B))/(2*C*A));

However, I get a pletely wrong number. Why is this so?

Sorry for the pretty dumb question. I'm slowly learning maths from scratch.

I would like to calculate the angle of triangle through javascript.

I calculate the lengths of the sides,

Ab = Math.abs(b.x - c.x);
Ac = Math.abs(b.y - c.y);

A = Math.sqrt((Ab*Ab) + (Ac*Ac));

Bb = Math.abs(a.x - c.x);
Bc = Math.abs(a.y - c.y);

B = Math.sqrt((Bb*Bb) + (Bc*Bc));

Cb = Math.abs(a.x - b.x);
Cc = Math.abs(a.y - b.y);

C = Math.sqrt((Cb*Cb) + (Cc*Cc));

And then I get to this point:

angleB = Math.cos(((C*C) + (A*A) - (B*B))/(2*C*A));

However, I get a pletely wrong number. Why is this so?

• javascript
• math
• trigonometry

Share Improve this question Follow edited Jun 21, 2013 at 14:37 styke asked Jun 21, 2013 at 14:31 stykestyke 2,17422 gold badges2727 silver badges5454 bronze badges 4

• Maybe you don't realize that most languages deal with radians, but you're expecting degrees. It'll be easy to tell if you post the number you get and the one you expect. – duffymo Commented Jun 21, 2013 at 14:33
• Triangles have three angles. Which are you trying to calculate? – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams Commented Jun 21, 2013 at 14:34
• Where's the rest of your code? Which 'angle' are you looking for? – shennan Commented Jun 21, 2013 at 14:35
• 1 He's looking for angle B, which is the angle opposite side B. – Kevin Commented Jun 21, 2013 at 14:36

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1 Answer 1

Sorted by: Reset to default 5

Your code uses Math.cos when it should use Math.acos.

Starting with the law of cosines, we derive the correct formula:

b*b = a*a + c*c - 2*a*c*cos(angleB)
b*b - a*a - c*c = - 2*a*c*cos(angleB)
2*a*c*cos(angleB) = a*a + c*c - b*b
cos(angleB) = (a*a + c*c - b*b) / (2*a*c)
angleB = acos((a*a + c*c - b*b) / (2*a*c))