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Coordinates of X from S, D, C

Short answer

Adjust observed angles for 10" misclosure, compute triangle SDC interior angles, then Tienstra's constants. Result: X = 6677.417 m E, 3174.042 m N.

The coordinates of three known stations (S), (D) and (C) are given in Table below. A theodolite is setup over the unknown point X, which is set outside of this known triangle and horizontal angle observation are made. Calculate coordinates of station X using any one method.

Known PointsHorizontal angleEasting (m)Northing (m)
(S)∠SXD = 41°20'21"7464.7186928.474
(D)∠DXC = 97°56'41"9602.0545363.275
(C)∠CXS = 220°42'48"7611.7531479.468

X lies outside the triangle SDC. The angles ∠SXD=41∘20′21′′\angle SXD = 41^\circ20'21'', ∠DXC=97∘56′41′′\angle DXC = 97^\circ56'41'', ∠CXS=220∘42′48′′\angle CXS = 220^\circ42'48'' sum to 359°59'50" (misclosure 10"), which is shared equally (+3.3" each): 41°20'24", 97°56'44", 220°42'51". Angles above 180° are used as measured (clockwise); the formula holds for a station outside the triangle.

Tienstra's formula. Let the known stations be S1,S2,S3S_1, S_2, S_3 with interior angles A,B,CA, B, C of the triangle S1S2S3S_1S_2S_3 at them. Let α,β,γ\alpha, \beta, \gamma be the observed angles at P subtended by the opposite sides: α=∠S2PS3\alpha = \angle S_2PS_3, β=∠S3PS1\beta = \angle S_3PS_1, γ=∠S1PS2\gamma = \angle S_1PS_2 (α+β+γ=360∘\alpha+\beta+\gamma = 360^\circ). Then

K1=1cot⁡A−cot⁡α,K2=1cot⁡B−cot⁡β,K3=1cot⁡C−cot⁡γK_1 = \frac{1}{\cot A - \cot\alpha},\quad K_2 = \frac{1}{\cot B - \cot\beta},\quad K_3 = \frac{1}{\cot C - \cot\gamma} EP=K1E1+K2E2+K3E3K1+K2+K3,NP=K1N1+K2N2+K3N3K1+K2+K3E_P = \frac{K_1E_1 + K_2E_2 + K_3E_3}{K_1+K_2+K_3}, \qquad N_P = \frac{K_1N_1 + K_2N_2 + K_3N_3}{K_1+K_2+K_3}

Data

StationEasting (m)Northing (m)
S7464.7186928.474
D9602.0545363.275
C7611.7531479.468

Angles at X: ∠SXD=γ=41°20′24"\angle SXD = \gamma = 41°20'24", ∠DXC=α=97°56′44"\angle DXC = \alpha = 97°56'44", ∠CXS=β=220°42′51"\angle CXS = \beta = 220°42'51" (sum = 360°00'00").

Step 1: Angles of the triangle SDC from the coordinates

SideBearingLength (m)
SD126°12'57"2649.161
DC207°08'00"4364.087
CS358°27'16"5450.989

Interior angles: AA (at S) =52°14′19"= 52°14'19", BB (at D) =99°04′57"= 99°04'57", CC (at C) =28°40′45"= 28°40'45" (sum 180°00'00").

Step 2: Tienstra constants

K1=1cot⁡52°14′−cot⁡97°56′44"=1.09388K2=1cot⁡99°04′−cot⁡220°42′51"=−0.75650K3=1cot⁡28°40′−cot⁡41°20′24"=1.44623\begin{aligned} K_1 &= \frac{1}{\cot 52°14' - \cot 97°56'44"} = 1.09388 \\ K_2 &= \frac{1}{\cot 99°04' - \cot 220°42'51"} = -0.75650 \\ K_3 &= \frac{1}{\cot 28°40' - \cot 41°20'24"} = 1.44623 \end{aligned}

ΣK=1.78362\Sigma K = 1.78362

Step 3: Coordinates of X

EX=(1.09388)(7464.718)+(−0.75650)(9602.054)+(1.44623)(7611.753)1.78362=6677.417 mE_X = \frac{(1.09388)(7464.718) + (-0.75650)(9602.054) + (1.44623)(7611.753)}{1.78362} = 6677.417\ \text{m} NX=(1.09388)(6928.474)+(−0.75650)(5363.275)+(1.44623)(1479.468)1.78362=3174.042 mN_X = \frac{(1.09388)(6928.474) + (-0.75650)(5363.275) + (1.44623)(1479.468)}{1.78362} = 3174.042\ \text{m}

Check: the angles computed back from these coordinates are 41°20'24", 97°56'44" and 220°42'51", equal to the observed angles.

Answer: coordinates of X = (6677.417 E, 3174.042 N).

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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