# How to align coordinates vertically and horizontally in TikZ

I have points with irrational coordinates, because I'm mixing polar and Cartesian coordinates. I'd like to specify a coordinate as the x-value of one thing and the y-value of another thing.

In this specific example, I want the two lines on the left to have the same left endpoints.

\documentclass{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{calc}

\begin{document}

\begin{tikzpicture}
\coordinate (left) at (155:2);
\coordinate (top) at (65:2);
\coordinate (bottom) at (245:2);
\coordinate (right) at (335:2);

\coordinate (leftEdge) at ($(left) + (-2,0)$);
\coordinate (bottomEdge) at ($(bottom) + (0,-2)$);

\path[draw=black] (left) -- (top) -- (right) -- (bottom) -- cycle;
\path[draw=blue] (left) -- (leftEdge);
\path[draw=black] (bottom) -- (bottomEdge);
\path[draw=red] (bottom) -- ++(-2,0);
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}


I think there's a way to do this with something like (leftEdge.x,bottom.y), but I've been unsuccessful in getting it to work.

How can I get the red edge to go as far left as the blue edge?

In your example, you all you need to do is to say \path[draw=red] (bottom) -- (bottom-|leftEdge);. This great answer provides you with a very nce discussion of this syntax.

\documentclass[tikz]{standalone}
\usetikzlibrary{calc}

\begin{document}

\begin{tikzpicture}
\coordinate (left) at (155:2);
\coordinate (top) at (65:2);
\coordinate (bottom) at (245:2);
\coordinate (right) at (335:2);

\coordinate (leftEdge) at ($(left) + (-2,0)$);
\coordinate (bottomEdge) at ($(bottom) + (0,-2)$);

\path[draw=black] (left) -- (top) -- (right) -- (bottom) -- cycle;
\path[draw=blue] (left) -- (leftEdge);
\path[draw=black] (bottom) -- (bottomEdge);
\path[draw=red] (bottom) -- (bottom-|leftEdge);
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}


• Thanks! Follow-up question: suppose I want to specify a direction and a line to end on. For example, draw a line at 225 degrees from (right), and make it long enough to reach the bottom border of the image. Is there a similarly quick way to do that? – Pi Fisher Mar 1 '19 at 15:00
• @PiFisher Yes, with the calc library, which you are already loading : \draw[purple] (right) -- (intersection cs:first line={(right)--($(right)+(225:3)$)},second line={(bottomEdge)--($(bottomEdge)+(3,0)$)});. – user121799 Mar 1 '19 at 15:09