# How to find distance from point to axis at specific angle

I want to find the distance between a point and an x or y axis, but at a certain angle. Hopefully the diagram below will be able to better explain what I am looking for.

I am trying to find the distance of the red and blue lines, the distance between point $$p$$ and the x-axis, and point $$p$$ and y-axis respectfully.

The lines originate from an arbitrary point $$p$$ and are angled by an arbitrary angle $$\theta$$ and $$\theta+90^\circ$$

• do you know trigonometry? – dcolazin May 31 '19 at 20:02
• Can we assume that x, y of P are given. How P is given? – Moti Jun 1 '19 at 1:27
• You need to use Patagonian equations – Moti Jun 1 '19 at 1:29
• You need to be sure of sign of coordinate and sign of angle (conventionally CCW is taken positive) . Inclined length by trig is more in magnitude. $L_x = |x|/\cos \theta ,\, L_y = |y|/\cos \theta$ – Narasimham Jun 1 '19 at 18:14

This is not difficult, the distance to axis $$y$$ will be $$\large{\frac{|x|}{\sin \theta}}$$, the distance to axis $$x$$ will be $$\large{\frac{|y|}{\sin \theta}}$$. Just draw lines parallel to axes and consider right triangles that will be formed by constructed lines, axes and your red and blue lines.