# Define a new math function

I want to use an angle (say a) in tikzpicture, which is calculated from other parameters:

\def\d{1}
\def\D{2}
\def\H{5}

a=90+0.5*asin(2(\D-\d)/\H)


This angle a I then use in a tikzpicture environment.

\begin{tikzpicture}

\coordinate (c1) at (0,0);

\coordinate (c2) at ($(c1)+(\H,0)$);

\draw (c1) circle (\d/2);

\draw (c2) circle (\D/2);

\draw ($(c1)+(\d/2:a)$) to ($(c2)+(\D/2:a)$);

\end{tikzpicture}


How do I define this a?

• (1) welcome, (2) as is custom on this site, you are much much more likely to get help if you take the time to create a full minimal example others can copy and test as is, instead of posting sniplets like this where others have to guess 50% before they can test your code. – daleif Feb 15 '19 at 12:52
• Using \def is discouraged. You will realize why when your paper cites Erdős and you'll get a weird output. – egreg Feb 15 '19 at 14:38

\documentclass[tikz,border=5pt]{standalone}
\usetikzlibrary{calc}
\begin{document}

\def\d{1}
\def\D{2}
\def\H{5}

\begin{tikzpicture}
\pgfmathsetmacro{\a}{90+0.5*asin(2*(\D-\d)/\H)}
\coordinate (c1) at (0,0);
\coordinate (c2) at ($(c1)+(\H,0)$);
\draw (c1) circle (\d/2);
\draw (c2) circle (\D/2);
\draw ($(c1)+(\d/2:\a)$) to ($(c2)+(\D/2:\a)$);
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}