# Angles between planes

• September 14th 2011, 10:35 AM
Bracketology
Angles between planes
I need to find the angle between the planes x-z=1 and 2y+z=1

So the normal vectors for the planes would be
<1,0,-1) and <0,2,1) Correct?

And the magnitudes of those vectors would be
(2)^(1/2) and (5)^(1/2) Correct?

Thus Cos(Theta)= -1/((2^.5)*(5^.5))
Correct?

Leaving me with an angle of 1.8925 Radians?

Is this all correct?
• September 14th 2011, 10:51 AM
TheChaz
Re: Angles between planes
Looks good to me, though I've been having trouble since my hari-kari.
• September 14th 2011, 10:58 AM
Bracketology
Re: Angles between planes
Well, this is the wrong answer...unless the teacher is wrong. So I'm trying to figure out what's wrong here.
• September 14th 2011, 11:07 AM
Plato
Re: Angles between planes
Quote:

Originally Posted by Bracketology
Well, this is the wrong answer...unless the teacher is wrong. So I'm trying to figure out what's wrong here.

Is your teacher's answer $1.249~?$
That is the acute angle between the plane,
• September 14th 2011, 11:23 AM
Bracketology
Re: Angles between planes
Yes. How do I find this angle?
• September 14th 2011, 11:32 AM
Plato
Re: Angles between planes
Quote:

Originally Posted by Bracketology
Yes. How do I find this angle?

It usual in such a question to find the acute angle or maybe right angle.
$\Theta = \arccos \left( {\frac{{\left| {u \cdot v} \right|}}{{\left\| u \right\| \cdot \left\| v \right\|}}} \right)~.$
• September 14th 2011, 11:44 AM
TheChaz
Re: Angles between planes
Quote:

Originally Posted by Bracketology
Yes. How do I find this angle?

Pi - 1.89 (!)
• September 14th 2011, 11:51 AM
HallsofIvy
Re: Angles between planes
When two planes (or two lines) intersect they make four angles but only two distinct angles- the "opposite" (vertical) angles are congruent. The two distinct angles between two planes add to $\pi$ radians. $\pi- 1.8925=1.2491$ radians.

As to why that formula did not immediately give you the correct answer, note that <-1, 0, 1> is also normal to the first plane and if you had used that, you would have got $cos(\theta)= \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}\sqrt{5}}$. I.e., to get the smaller angle, use the absolute value.
• September 14th 2011, 01:23 PM
Bracketology
Re: Angles between planes
Thanks for all the help guys!