Line Intersection
R
A
# Function to calculate determinant of a 2x2 matrix
def determinant(m00: float, m01: float, m10: float, m11: float) -> float:
"""
Calculates the determinant of a 2x2 matrix:
| m00 m01 |
| m10 m11 |
Args:
m00 (float): Element in the first row, first column.
m01 (float): Element in the first row, second column.
m10 (float): Element in the second row, first column.
m11 (float): Element in the second row, second column.
Returns:
float: The determinant of the matrix.
Examples:
# Determinant of the identity matrix (should be 1)
>>> determinant(1, 0, 0, 1)
1
# Determinant of a matrix with two equal rows (should be 0)
>>> determinant(1, 2, 1, 2)
0
# Determinant of a matrix with a negative determinant
>>> determinant(1, 2, 3, 4)
-2
# Determinant of a matrix with larger numbers
>>> determinant(10, 20, 30, 40)
-200
"""
return m00 * m11 - m10 * m01
# Function to compute the line equation coefficients from two points
def line_coefficients(p1: list[float] | tuple, p2: list[float] | tuple) -> tuple:
"""
Computes the coefficients A, B, C of the line equation Ax + By + C = 0
from two points.
Args:
p1 (List[float] | tuple): First point (x, y).
p2 (List[float] | tuple): Second point (x, y).
Returns:
tuple: Coefficients (A, B, C) of the line equation.
Examples:
# Vertical line (x = constant)
>>> line_coefficients([1, 0], [1, 2])
(1, 0, 1)
# Horizontal line (y = constant)
>>> line_coefficients([0, 1], [2, 1])
(0.0, -1, 1.0)
# Diagonal line (positive slope)
>>> line_coefficients([0, 0], [1, 1])
(1.0, -1, 0.0)
# Diagonal line (negative slope)
>>> line_coefficients([0, 1], [1, 0])
(-1.0, -1, 1.0)
"""
if p1[0] == p2[0]: # Vertical line
return 1, 0, p1[0]
else: # Non-vertical line
a = (p2[1] - p1[1]) / (p2[0] - p1[0])
b = -1
c = p2[1] - a * p2[0]
return a, b, c
def segment_intersection(
v1: list[float] | tuple,
v2: list[float] | tuple,
v1_prime: list[float] | tuple,
v2_prime: list[float] | tuple,
as_segments: bool = True,
) -> list[float] | None:
"""
Finds the intersection point of two line segments or lines, if it exists.
Args:
v1 (List[float] | tuple): First point of the first segment (x, y).
v2 (List[float] | tuple): Second point of the first segment (x, y).
v1_prime (List[float] | tuple): First point of the second segment (x, y).
v2_prime (List[float] | tuple): Second point of the second segment (x, y).
as_segments (bool):
treat the inputs as line segments (True)
or as infinite lines (False).
Returns:
List[float] | None:
Returns the intersection point [x, y] if existent, otherwise None.
References:
Cramer's rule: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cramer%27s_rule
Examples:
>>> segment_intersection([0, 0], [1, 1], [1, 0], [0, 1])
[0.5, 0.5]
# No intersection
>>> segment_intersection([0, 0], [1, 1], [2, 2], [3, 3]) is None
True
# Parallel lines
>>> segment_intersection([0, 0], [0, 1], [1, 0], [1, 1]) is None
True
# Intersecting infinite lines
>>> segment_intersection([0, 0], [1, 1], [1, 0], [0, 1], as_segments=False)
[0.5, 0.5]
# Parallel infinite lines (ignoring segment boundaries)
>>> segment_intersection([0, 0], [1, 1], [2, 2], [3, 3], False) is None
True
"""
# Compute line coefficients for the two segments/lines
a, b, c = line_coefficients(v1, v2)
a_prime, b_prime, c_prime = line_coefficients(v1_prime, v2_prime)
# Calculate the determinant (D) of the coefficient matrix
d = determinant(a, b, a_prime, b_prime)
if d == 0:
# If D == 0, the lines are parallel or coincident (no unique solution)
return None
# Cramer's rule to solve for x and y
dx = determinant(-c, b, -c_prime, b_prime)
dy = determinant(a, -c, a_prime, -c_prime)
# Intersection point of the lines
x, y = dx / d, dy / d
if as_segments:
# Check if the intersection point lies within the bounds of both line segments
if (
min(v1[0], v2[0]) <= x <= max(v1[0], v2[0])
and min(v1_prime[0], v2_prime[0]) <= x <= max(v1_prime[0], v2_prime[0])
and min(v1[1], v2[1]) <= y <= max(v1[1], v2[1])
and min(v1_prime[1], v2_prime[1]) <= y <= max(v1_prime[1], v2_prime[1])
):
return [x, y]
return None
else:
# Return the intersection point of the infinite lines
return [x, y]