2

Projections of Points and

Straight Lines II
PROJECTIONS OF A LINE KEPT INCLINED TO BOTH HP AND VP
When a line is placed inclined to both HP and VP, its projections obtained in top and
front views are smaller than the true length of the line and inclined to the XY line. So it
is impossible to project and draw the top or front view of the line directly. Any one of the
following methods may be used to draw the projections.
1. Rotating line method
2. Rotating trapezoidal plane method
3. Auxiliary plane method

ROTATING LINE METHOD

Consider a line AB is placed inclined at q to HP and f to VP. Draw its projections assuming
that the line is placed in the first quadrant. The following steps are to find the top view
(plan) and front view (elevation) lengths and then, they are rotated to the required position
to represent the projections of the line in the given position.
Mark the projections of the end A by considering it as a point. Its front view a will be
obtained above XY and top view a will be obtained below the XY line.
Step 1: Assume that the line is kept inclined to HP and parallel to VP. Draw the front
view ab1, it is a line inclined at q to XY and having true length (TL). Project and get the
top view ab1 length which is parallel to XY line. Then this will be rotated to the required
position (Fig. 2.1 (i)).
Step 2: Assume the line is kept inclined to VP and parallel to HP. Draw the top view
ab2, it is a line inclined at f to XY and having true length (TL). Project and get the front
view ab2 length which is parallel to XY line. Then this will be rotated to the required
position (Fig. 2.1 (ii)).

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Step 3: Draw the locus of the other end B of the line in top and front views. Draw the
locus of the front view b as a line passing through b1 and parallel to XY line. Draw the
locus of the top view b as a line passing through b2 and parallel to XY line (Fig. 2.1 (iii)).
Note that step 1 and step 2 are shown together.

b1

(i)

(ii)

(iii)
Figure 2.1

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Projections of Points and Straight Lines II

Step 4: Rotate the top view ab1 and front view ab2 to the required position. Take a as
centre, top view length ab1 as radius, draw an arc to intersect with the locus of b at b.
Join a and b to get the top view ab of the line in required position. Taking a as centre,
front view ab2 as radius, draw an arc to intersect the locus of b at b. Join a and b to
get the front view ab of the line in required position (Fig. 2.1 (iv)).
Check the drawings obtained, by drawing the projector for the end B by joining b
and b which is a line always perpendicular to XY line.

(iv)
Figure 2.1

Note
1. The front view ab is inclined to XY and is known as the apparent inclination
with HP, represented by symbol a. It is always greater than the true inclination of
the line with HP, denoted by q.
2. The top view ab is inclined to XY and is known as the apparent inclination with
VP, represented by symbol b. It is always greater than the true inclination of the
line with VP, denoted by f.
3. Check the result obtained by drawing the projector joining b and b which should
be a vertical line (perpendicular to XY).

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Tips to Solve Problems when a Line is Inclined to Both HP and VP

1. You require thorough knowledge in solving problems when a line is placed inclined
to one plane and parallel to the other plane.
2. Understand the steps suggested in rotating line method, place any object having
length (for example, your drawing pencil) with reference to the reference planes
(for example, your note book in 90 open position to represent VP and HP) as shown
in Fig. 2.2.
Position the line (pencil) as given in the steps and understand the projections in
order to solve problems when a line is placed inclined to both HP and VP.
3. Steps (1) to (4) can be done in any order to get required projections of the line.

Figure 2.2

Example 2.1 A line AB 80 mm long has its end A 20 mm above HP and 25 mm in

front of VP. The line is inclined at 45 to HP and 35 to VP. Draw its projections.
Solution Mark the projections of end A by considering it as a point. Its front view a is
20 mm above XY and top view a is 25 mm below the XY line.
1. Assume that the line is kept inclined to HP and parallel to VP. Draw the front
view ab1, a line inclined at 45 to XY line and having a length of 80 mm. Project
and get the top view ab1 length which is parallel to XY line.
2. Assume that the line is kept inclined to VP and parallel to HP. Draw the top view
ab2, a line inclined at 35 to XY line and having a length of 80 mm. Project and
get the front view ab2 length which is also parallel to XY line.
3. Draw the locus of the other end B of the line in top and front views. Draw the
locus of b which is a line passing through b1 and parallel to XY line. Also draw
the locus of b which is a line passing through b2 and parallel to XY line.

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Projections of Points and Straight Lines II

4. Rotate the top view ab1 and front view ab2 to the required position. Take a as
centre, top view length ab1 as radius, draw an arc to intersect the locus of b at b.
Join a and b to get the top view ab of the line. Take a as centre, front view length
ab2 as radius, draw an arc to intersect the locus of a at b. Join a and b to get
the front view ab of the line.
5. Check the result obtained by drawing the projector joining b and b which should
be a vertical line.

Figure 2.3

TRAPEZOIDAL PLANE METHOD

The trapezoidal plane method is another method that is used to draw the projections.
By this method, we can find the true length and true inclinations with HP and VP of a
line when it is placed inclined to both HP and VP.

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Lesson Plan for Engineering Graphics

Consider a line AB placed at an inclination of q to HP and f to VP. Draw its projections

assuming that the line is placed in the first quadrant. Also mark the traces.
Imagine that the straight line is contained in a trapezoidal plane AabB. This plane
contains the true length (TL) which is inclined at q to HP and top view (TV) ab of the
line. Assume that the trapezoidal plane is rotated downwards through an angle of 90 to
get A1ab B1 on HP. It is observed in top view as shown in Fig. 2.4 (i).

(i)

Figure 2.4 (ii)

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Projections of Points and Straight Lines II

Produce the line AB towards HP to get the intersection point HT on HP. The projections
are drawn as in Fig. 2.4 (ii).

(i)

Figure 2.5 (ii)

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Lesson Plan for Engineering Graphics

Imagine a straight line contained in a trapezoidal plane AabB. This plane contains
the true length (TL) which is inclined at f to VP and front view (FV) ab of the line. Assume
that the trapezoidal plane is rotated through 90 to get A2abB2 on VP. It is observed in
front view as shown in Fig. 2.5 (i).
Produce the line AB towards VP to get the intersection point VT on VP. The projections
are drawn as shown in Fig. 2.5 (ii).
Example 2.2 A line AB has its end A 20 mm above HP and 25 mm in front of VP.
The other end B is 45 mm above HP and 40 mm in front of VP. The distance between
the end projectors is 60 mm. Draw its projections, also find the true length and true
inclinations of the line with HP and VP and mark the traces.
Solution

Figure 2.6

To draw the projections

1. Mark the projections of end A, its front view a is 20 mm above XY and top view
a is 25 mm below the XY line.

Projections of Points and Straight Lines II

53

2. Draw the projector for the other end B at a distance 60 mm from aa.
3. Mark the projections of end B, its front view b is 45 mm above XY line and top
view b is 40 mm below the XY line.
4. Join a and b to get the front view ab of the line. Join a and b to get the top
view ab of the line.
To find TL, q and HT
1. Draw lines perpendicular to the top view ab of the line passing through a and b.
2. Mark the distance a to XY (20 mm) from a to get A1 and the distance b to XY (45
mm) from b to get B1. Join A1 and B1 to get the true length A1B1 of the line.
3. Extend the true length A1B1 and top view ab to get the intersection point which
is the horizontal trace (HT) of the line.
4. The angle between the true length (A1B1) and top view (ab) is the inclination of
the line with HP (q).
To find TL, f and VT
1. Draw lines perpendicular to the front view ab of the line passing through a and
b.
2. Mark the distance a to XY (25 mm) from a to get A2 and the distance b to XY
(40 mm) from b to get B2. Join A2 and B2 to get the true length A2B2 of the line.
3. Extend the true length A2B2 and front view ab to get the intersection point which
is the vertical trace (VT) of the line.
4. The angle between the true length A2B2 and front view ab is the inclination of
the line with VP (f).

SPECIAL CASES
i.

Projections of a Line when q + f = 90

When the sum of inclinations with HP and VP is equal to 90 (q + f = 90), then the line
contained by a plane will be perpendicular to both HP and VP. The top view ab and front
view ab of the line will be obtained perpendicular to XY line.

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Lesson Plan for Engineering Graphics

(i)

(ii)
Figure 2.7

ii.

Projections of a Line when One End of the Line is in HP and the other in VP

This is considered a special case, when only one condition is given for both ends, one
end in HP and another end in VP.

Figure 2.8

Projections of Points and Straight Lines II

55

Consider a line AB having its end A in HP, (its position from VP not given) and another
end B in VP (its position from HP is not given).
The drawing procedure for this line is the same as in the previous problems, but
steps involved in drawing the projections are drawn separately to get the final projections.
The vertical trace (VT) will coincide with the end touching the VP and the horizontal
trace (HT) will coincide with the end touching the HP.

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Projections of Points and Straight Lines II

57

PRACTICE PROBLEMS
Problem 1 A straight line AB, 80 mm long is kept such that it makes an angle of 45
with HP and 30 with VP. The end A is 20 mm away from both the planes of projections
and is in the first quadrant. Draw the projections of the line and determine the traces.
Solution
Mark the projections of end A by considering it as a point. Its front view a is 20 mm
above XY and top view a is 20 mm below the XY line.
1. Assume that the line is kept inclined to HP and parallel to VP. Draw the front
view ab1, a line inclined at 45 to XY line and having a length of 80 mm. Project
and get the top view ab1 length which is parallel to XY line.
2. Assume that the line is kept inclined to VP and parallel to HP. Draw the top view
ab2, a line inclined at 30 to XY line and having a length of 80 mm. Project and
get the front view ab2 length which is also parallel to XY line.
3. Draw the locus of the other end B of the line in top and front views. Draw the
locus of b which is a line passing through b1 and parallel to XY line. Also draw
the locus of b which is a line passing through b2 and parallel to XY line.
4. Rotate the top view ab1 and front view ab2 to the required position. Take a as
centre, top view length ab1 as radius, draw an arc to intersect the locus of b at
b. Join a and b to get the top view ab of the line. Take a as centre, front view
length ab2 as radius, draw an arc to intersect the locus of b at b. Join a and b
to get the front view ab of the line.
5. Check the result obtained by drawing the projector joining b and b which should
be a vertical line.
To mark the traces
1. Extend the front view ab to get the intersection point h with XY line.
2. Produce the top view ab to get the intersection point v with XY line.
3. Draw a vertical line from h to intersect with the top view to get horizontal trace
(HT).
4. Draw another vertical line from v to intersect with the front view to get the vertical
trace (VT).

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Projections of Points and Straight Lines II

59

Problem 2 A line LM 70 mm long has its end L 10 mm above HP and 15 mm infront

of VP. The top view and front view measures 60 mm and 40 mm respectively. Draw the
projections of the line and determine its inclination with HP and VP.
Solution Mark the projections of the end L by considering it as a point. Its front view
l is 10 mm above XY and top view l is 15 mm below XY line.
1. Assume that the line is kept inclined to HP and parallel to VP. In this case,
considering the given data the top view lm1 can be drawn parallel to XY and having
a length of 60 mm. Draw a vertical line (projector) through m1. Using true length
70 mm as radius and l as centre, draw an arc to intersect the vertical line through
m1 to get m1. Join l and m1 which represents the true length of the line. The
inclination of lm1 to XY is the inclination of the line with HP (q).
2. Assume that the line is kept inclined to VP and parallel to HP. In this case,
considering the given data, the front view lm2 can be drawn parallel to XY and
having a length of 40 mm. Draw a vertical line (projector) through m2. Using true
length 70 mm as radius and l as centre, draw an arc to intersect the vertical line
through m2 to get m2. Join l and m2 which represents the true length of the line.
The inclination of lm2 to XY is the inclination of the line with VP (f).
3. Draw the locus of the other end M of the line in top and front views. Draw the
locus of m which is a line passing through m1 and parallel to XY line. Also draw
the locus of m which is a line passing through m2 and parallel to XY line.
4. Rotate the top view lm1 and front view lm2 to the required position. Take l as
centre, top view lm1 as radius, draw an arc to intersect with the locus of m at m.
Join l and m to get the top view lm of the line. Take l as centre, front view lm2 as
radius, draw an arc to intersect the locus of m at m. Join l and m to get the
front view lm of the line.
5. Check the result obtained by drawing the projector joining m and m which should
be a vertical line.

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Projections of Points and Straight Lines II

61

Problem 3 The end A of a line AB is 10 mm in front of VP and 20 mm above HP. The

line is inclined at 30 to HP and front view is 45 with XY. Top view is 60 mm long.
Complete the two views. Find the true length and inclination with VP. Locate the traces.
Solution Mark the projections of end A. Its front view a is 20 mm above XY and top
view a is 10 mm below XY line.
1. Assume that the line is kept inclined to HP and parallel to VP. Draw its top view
ab1 from a which is parallel to the XY line for a length of 60 mm. Draw a vertical
line (projector) from b1 and draw a line from a inclined at 30 to XY line,
intersecting at b1. The front view length ab1 is the true length (TL) of the line.
2. Draw the locus of b passing through b1 and parallel to XY line. Draw the front
view ab of the line inclined at 45 to the XY line from a and intersecting the
locus of b at b.
3. Draw the vertical line (projector) passing through b. Rotate the top view ab1 by
taking a as centre and ab1 as radius to intersect with the projector at b. Draw
the locus of b passing through b and parallel to XY line.
4. Rotate the front view ab in the reverse order. Take a as centre, front view ab as
radius and draw an arc to get b2, parallel to XY line. Project b2 to the locus of b
to get b2. Join ab2 which has the true length (TL) of the line. The inclination of
ab2 with the XY line is the true inclination of the line with VP (f).
To mark the traces
1. Extend the front view ab to get the intersection point h with XY line.
2. Produce the top view ab to get the intersection point v with XY line.
3. Draw a vertical line from h to intersect with the top view to get horizontal trace
(HT).
4. Draw another vertical line from v to intersect with the front view to get the vertical
trace (VT).

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Projections of Points and Straight Lines II

63

Problem 4 A line PQ 65 mm long has its end P in the horizontal plane and 15 mm
infront of the vertical plane. The line is inclined at 30 to the horizontal plane and is at
60 to the vertical plane. Draw its projections.
Solution Mark the projections of end P. Its front view p is on XY line and top view p is
15 mm below XY line.
1. Assume that the line is kept inclined to HP and parallel to VP. Draw the front
view pq1 which is inclined at 30 to XY and has a length of 65 mm. The top view
length pq1 is projected and obtained parallel to XY line.
2. Assume that the line is kept inclined to VP and parallel to HP. Draw the top view
pq2 which is inclined at 60 to XY line and has a length of 65 mm. The front view
length pq2 is projected and obtained parallel to XY line.
3. Draw the locus of q passing through q1 and parallel to XY line. Also draw the
locus of q passing through q2 and parallel to XY line.
4. Rotate the top view pq1 by taking p as centre, pq1 as radius to get q, which touches
the locus of q. Join p and q to complete the top view pq of the line. Rotate the
front view pq2 by taking p as centre, pq2 as radius to get q which touches the
locus of q. Join p and q to get the front view pq of the line.
Note: The projections obtained are perpendicular to the XY line.

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Projections of Points and Straight Lines II

65

Problem 5 A line AB 70 mm long has its end A 15 mm above the HP and 20 mm in

front of VP. The end B is 40 mm above HP and 50 mm in front of VP. Draw the
projections and find its inclination with HP and VP.
Solution Mark the projections of end A. Its front view a is 15 mm above XY and top
view a is 20 mm below the XY line.
1. Draw the locus of the other end B in front and top views. locus of b is drawn at
a distance of 40 mm above the XY line and parallel to it. locus of b is drawn at a
distance of 50 mm below XY line and parallel to it.
2. Assume that the line is kept inclined to HP and parallel to VP. Draw the front
view ab1 by considering a as centre and true length 70 mm as radius, cut an
arc in the locus of b to mark b1. The top view length ab1 is projected and obtained
parallel to XY line. The inclination of front view ab1 with XY is the inclination of
the line with HP (q).
3. Assume that the line is kept inclined to VP and parallel to HP. Draw the top view
ab2 by considering a as centre and true length 70 mm as radius, cut an arc in
the locus of b to mark b2. The front view length ab2 is projected and obtained
parallel to XY line. The inclination of top view ab2 with XY is the inclination of
the line with VP (f).
4. Rotate the top view ab1 to the required position by taking a as centre, ab1 as radius
to get the intersection point b with the locus of b. Join a and b to complete the
top view ab of the line. Rotate the front view ab2 by taking a as centre, ab2 as
radius to get the intersection point b with the locus of b. Join a and b to get the
front view ab of the line.
5. Check the result obtained by drawing the projector joining b and b which should
be a vertical line.

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Lesson Plan for Engineering Graphics

Projections of Points and Straight Lines II

67

Problem 6 One end P of a line PQ is 15 mm above HP and 20 mm infront of VP while

the end Q is 50 mm above HP and 45 mm infront of VP. If the end projectors are at a
distance of 60 mm, draw the projections of the line. Find the true length and its
inclinations with HP and VP.
Solution Mark the projections of the end P. Its front view p is 15 mm above XY line
and top view p is 20 mm below the XY line.
1. Draw the projector for the other end Q at a distance of 60 mm from p-p. Mark
the projection of end Q, its front view q is 50 mm above XY line and top view q is
45 mm below XY line. Join p and q to get front view pq of the line. Join p and
q to get the top view pq of the line.
2. Draw the locus of the end Q in front and top views. Locus of q is drawn passing
through q and parallel to XY line. Locus of q is drawn passing through q and
parallel to XY line.
3. Rotate top view pq in the reverse order, take p as centre, top view length pq as
radius, draw an arc to get q1, on a line drawn parallel to XY line. Project q1 to
locus of q to get q1. Join pq1 which has true length (TL) of the line. The inclination
of pq1 with XY line is the true inclination of the line with HP(q).
4. Rotate the front view pq in the reverse order, take p as centre, front view length
pq as radius, draw an arc to get q2, on a line drawn parallel to XY line. Project
q2 to the locus of q to get q2. Join pq2 which has true length (TL) of the line. The
inclination of pq2 with XY line is the inclination of the line with VP (f).

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Projections of Points and Straight Lines II

69

Problem 7 A line AB, 75 mm long, is in the first quadrant with end A in HP and end
B in VP. The line is inclined at 35 to HP and 45 to VP. Draw the projections of the
straight line AB and indicate the projections of the mid-point M of the line. Also mark
the traces.
Solution
1. Mark the front view a of the end A on XY line arbitrarily. Assume that the line is
kept inclined to HP and parallel to VP. Draw the front view ab1 of the line which
is inclined at 35 to XY and has a length of 75 mm. The top view ab1 length is
projected and obtained on the XY line.
2. Mark the top view b of the end B on XY line arbitrarily. Assume that the line is
kept inclined to VP and parallel to HP. Draw the top view ba2 of the line which is
inclined at 45 to XY and has a length of 75 mm. The front view ba2 length is
projected and obtained on XY line.
3. Draw the locus of b passing through b1 and parallel to XY line. Also draw the
locus of a passing through a2 and parallel to XY line.
4. Mark the front view a on XY line arbitrarily in another position to get the
projections. Considering a as centre, front view length ba2 as radius, draw an
arc to get b in the locus of b. Join a and b to get the front view ab of the line.
Draw the projector passing through b to mark the top view b on XY line.
Considering b as centre, top view length ab1 as radius, draw an arc to get a in
the locus of a. Join a and b to get the top view ab of the line.
5. Check the result obtained by drawing the projector joining a and a which should
be a vertical line.
6. To draw the projections of the mid-point of the line, mark m1 on the mid-point of
ab1 and draw its locus parallel to XY line to get m on ab. Similarly mark m1 on
the mid-point ba2 and draw its locus parallel to XY line to get m on ab. Draw the
projector joining m and m which should be a vertical line.
The end A is in HP, so the horizontal trace (HT) is marked coinciding with the top
view a of the line. The end B is in VP, so the vertical trace (VT) is marked coinciding with
the front view b of the line.

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Projections of Points and Straight Lines II

71

Problem 8 A line AB has its end A 20 mm above HP and 30 mm in front of VP. The
other end B is 50 mm above HP and 60 mm in front of VP. The distance between the
end projectors is 65 mm. Draw its projections, also find the true length and true
inclinations of the line with HP and VP and mark the traces.
Solution
To draw the projections
1. Mark the projections of end A, its front view a is 20 mm above XY and top view
a is 30 mm below the XY line.
2. Draw the projector for the other end B at a distance 65 mm from aa.
3. Mark the projections of end B, its front view b is 50 mm above XY line and top
view b is 60 mm below the XY line.
4. Join a and b to get the front view ab of the line. Join a and b to get the top
view ab of the line.
To find TL, q and HT
1. Draw lines perpendicular to the top view ab of the line passing through a and b.
2. Mark the distance a to XY (20 mm) from a to get A1 and the distance b to XY
(50 mm) from b to get B1. Join A1 and B1 to get the true length A1B1 of the line.
3. Extend the true length A1B1 and top view ab to get the intersection point which
is the horizontal trace (HT) of the line.
4. The angle between the true length (A1B1) and top view (ab) is the inclination of
the line with HP (q).
To find TL, f and VT
1. Draw lines perpendicular to the front view ab of the line passing through a and
b.
2. Mark the distance a to XY (30 mm) from a to get A2 and the distance b to XY
(60 mm) from b to get B2. Join A2 and B2 to get the true length A2B2 of the line.
3. Extend the true length A2B2 and front view ab to get the intersection point which
is the vertical trace (VT) of the line.
4. The angle between the true length A2B2 and front view ab is the inclination of
the line with VP (f).

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Space for Rough Work