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Handy 4-way Geometry Terms You Have Forgotten

Christy Frikken
Christy Frikken
March 29, 2021 · Basic Flying Skills, Competition Formation Skydiving

Has it been a long time since high school geometry? Maybe you never paid much attention? Refresh some useful 4-way vocabulary terms to avoid looking lost on the creeper pad.

Parallel/Perpendicular

These words most commonly are used when talking about your angle relative to someone else.

Perpendicular – two lines which cross to form a 90-degree angle

perpindicular perpindicular1 sidebodyperpindicular

Parallel – two infinite lines that do not intersect at any point

parallel parallel1 parallelopen

Degrees

Most commonly used terms for turning. It can also refer to your position relative to an airframe, or the angle of movement in a block.

90degrees 180degrees 270degrees 360degrees 540degrees 720degrees
90 degrees 180 degrees 270 degrees 360 degrees 540 degrees 720 degrees
1/4 turn 1/2 turn 3/4 turn 1 full turn 1 1/2 turn 2 full turns
30degrees 45degrees 60degrees
30 degrees 45 degrees 60 degrees

Acute/Obtuse

Acute angles are small angles less than 90 degrees.

acute1 acute acute3

An obtuse angle has a measurement greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees.

obtuse

Right/Left

See Obtuse

Hopefully, this clarifies a few common terms that can be used to articulate formations with precision!

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