How to find co-ordinates of a point in 3D using Matlab functions?

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I am trying to determine the (x,y,z) coordinates of a point p. What I have are the Euclidean distances to 3 different points m1, m2, m3 with known coordinates.
I am looking for Matlab functions that will help me solve this problem. My math is not so strong. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you

Answers (2)

Roger Stafford
Roger Stafford on 22 Oct 2014
This problem is equivalent to finding the common points of intersection of three spheres. You should realize that if there are any solutions at all, there are almost always two of them. At the following Answers thread:
http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/116045
you will find a method of solution for this problem which I gave back in February of this year.

Zoltán Csáti
Zoltán Csáti on 22 Oct 2014
Let the coordinates of the unknown point be x,y,z and m1(x1,y1,z1), m2(x2,y2,z2), m3(x3,y3,z3), moreover the known Euclidean distances d1, d2, d3 respectively. You can write 3 equations for the 3 unknowns: (x-x1)^2 + (y-y1)^2 + (z-z1)^2 = d1^2, ... Now, solve them for x, y and z.

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