How to obtain the three angles (xy, yz, xz planes) of one vector relative to other vector?

P
Paulo Oliveira · Jan 11, 2024 · 2K views
Question
I need to find the angles between two vectors (v1=p1-p2; v2=p2-p3) defined by three points (p1, p2 and p3). The problem is that I can only get one angle, and I need the three angles that represents the position of the second vector in respect to the first. In other words I need to calculate the angle in sagittal perspective, frontal perspective and tranverse perspective. These two vectors represents two segments of the body and I need to see the position of the distal segment relative to the proximal one.   This is a code that I have until now.     p1=[-83.3958 12.4263 36.4348]; p2=[-86.9626 21.0892 23.2980]; p3=[ -274.7046 58.9844 -171.2332]; v1 = p2-p1; v2 = p3-p2; angle = rad2deg(atan2(norm(cross(v1,v2)),dot(v1,v2))); I see in other forums, but none have a explain how to calculate the three angles of one vector relative to a another. Thanks in advance.  
Expert Answer
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Kshitij Singh PhD Expert
Answered Aug 24, 2026

I think you should project the vectors onto each plane consecutively and calculate then the angle formed by the projections:

 

   p1=[-83.3958   12.4263   36.4348];
   p2=[-86.9626   21.0892   23.2980];
   p3=[ -274.7046   58.9844 -171.2332];
   v1   = p2-p1;
   v2   = p3-p2;
   v_1 = [v1(1) v1(2)];
   v_2 = [v2(1) v2(2)];
   ang1 = acos(dot(v_1,v_2)/(norm(v_1)*norm(v_2)));

   v_1 = [v1(2) v1(3)];
   v_2 = [v2(2) v2(3)];
   ang2 = acos(dot(v_1,v_2)/(norm(v_1)*norm(v_2)));

   v_1 = [v1(1) v1(3)];
   v_2 = [v2(1) v1(3)];
   ang3 = acos(dot(v_1,v_2)/(norm(v_1)*norm(v_2)));

 

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