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I searched but couldn't find on Google:

My question is, how do I find the opposite direction of an angle, for example 170 degree, how do I calculate the opposite direction in degrees?

Thanks in advance.

almost a beginner
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    What do you call opposite direction??? It is not clear. – Martigan Jun 10 '15 at 07:25
  • for example if north is 0 degrees, the opposite would be 180 degrees, I know this looking at a protractor, but I want to be able to calculate the opposite of any degrees. – almost a beginner Jun 10 '15 at 07:27
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    The so-called "opposite direction angles" form a straight line. And as the angle of a straight line is 180 degree, you can just add 180 degree to the known "opposite direction angle" to find out the other. – Mythomorphic Jun 10 '15 at 07:32

3 Answers3

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If you are given an angle $\alpha$, the oppossite angle would be $\alpha+180$. If you need to remain in $[0,360]$ then, you should take $(\alpha+180)\ mod\ 360$ (what in this case it is simply taking $\alpha-180$ if $\alpha+180\ge360$)

AugSB
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In aviation the 200/20 rule can be used. If your current heading in degree is below 180° e.g. 80° then you add 200 and subtract 20. 80+200=280. 280-20=260. If your current heading in degrees is above 180° then subtract 200 and add 20. E.g. 240-200=40. 40+20=60

Quentin
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Considering an angle normallized between -180° and 180°, the opposite angle is given by :

if angle == 0 :
  opposite = 180 // or -180 as you wish
else :
  if angle > 0 :
    opposite = angle - 180
  else :
    opposite = angle + 180
didi
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