# How do I draw an arc between two lines in pgfplots using axis cs

I would like to draw an arc between to lines in a pgfplots picture using axis cs. My first attempt is as follows:

    \documentclass[12pt,a4paper]{article}
\usepackage{pgfplots}

\pgfplotsset{compat=newest}

\begin{document}

\begin{center}
\begin{tikzpicture}
\begin{axis}[xmin=-8,xmax=8,xtick={-8,-6,...,8},
ymin=-8,ymax=8,ytick={-8,-6,...,8},grid=major
,view={0}{90},x post scale={2},y post scale=2
]
\addplot[black,thin,domain=0:8]{0};
\addplot[black,thin,domain=0:8]{2.3962931*x};
\draw [->] (axis cs:2,0) arc [radius=17mm,start angle=0,end angle=64.3];
\end{axis}
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{center}

\end{document}


However, the value of the radius and angle needed to be determined via trial and error. Hence, if I change the scaling (as used with x post scale and y post scale) then the arc does not display correctly.

Clearly, I have missed something and there should be a straight forward way to achieve my aims. I can change the arc to a circle (set radius=2 (with no units)) and I get what I expect and it scales.

Any insights would be much appreciated.

Peter Johnston.

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## 1 Answer

The easiest thing to do in this case is to set disabledatascaling, in which case canvas and axis units are the same (i.e. \draw (0,0) -- (1,1) has the same effect as \draw (axis cs:0,0) -- (axis cs:1,1)). That will only work if your units are within a "reasonable" range that doesn't cause over- or underflows. In your case, it'll work fine. Note that you should also set axis equal, otherwise your arc will be squashed a bit.

\documentclass[12pt,a4paper]{article}
\usepackage{pgfplots}

\pgfplotsset{compat=1.5.1}

\begin{document}

\begin{center}
\begin{tikzpicture}
\begin{axis}[xmin=-8,xmax=8,xtick={-8,-6,...,8},
ymin=-8,ymax=8,ytick={-8,-6,...,8},grid=major
,view={0}{90},x post scale={2},y post scale=2, disabledatascaling, axis equal
]
\addplot[black,thin,domain=0:8]{0};
\addplot[black,thin,domain=0:8]{2.3962931*x};
\draw [thick, ->] (axis cs:2,0) arc [radius=2,start angle=0,end angle=64.3];
\end{axis}
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{center}

\end{document}

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You could also use \pgfmathsetmacro{\EndAngle}{atan(2.3962931)} and use \EndAngle instead of 64.3 (which does not quite connect to the line). – Peter Grill Jun 18 '12 at 4:54
Thanks Jake, that seemed to work just fine. – Peter Johnston Jun 18 '12 at 5:51
@PeterJohnston you can accept Jake's answer; in case of doubt, please see How do you accept an answer?. – Gonzalo Medina Jun 20 '12 at 2:11