# Quaternions and Angle/Axis

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Hey guys. I'm just getting into quaternions which is working out well, except for one thing. I don't really understand how to build my axis-angle representation for my vector n; where the quaternion is [w (nx ny nz)]. As an example, say I want to rotate 30 degrees around the x-axis and 55 degrees around the y-axis; how can I use those values to build my axis-angle? I realize that I can create two separate quaternions for each rotation and multiply them together, but for the sake of learning I'd like to try it this other way. Thanks! :)

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 Original post by GaryNasAs an example, say I want to rotate 30 degrees around the x-axis and 55 degrees around the y-axis; how can I use those values to build my axis-angle? I realize that I can create two separate quaternions for each rotation and multiply them together, but for the sake of learning I'd like to try it this other way.

I don't know of any other way. What you're doing, of course, is using euler angles to generate a quaternion. And multiplying several axial rotations together is "how it's done". HUTTAH!

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It is easier to just multiply the 3 quaternions as Sneftel suggests, but for the sake of learning you might go the extra step of reducing the math. The quaternions are
    qX = [ sin α/2, 0, 0, cos α/2 ]    qY = [ 0, sin β/2, 0, cos β/2 ]    qZ = [ 0, 0, sin γ/2, cos γ/2 ]
and a lot of terms should drop out when you multiply the quaternions.

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