VTA and SRA?

^^ No. Assuming the LP is flat, absolutely vertical is 90 degrees. Because the cutterhead that made the LP has to be angled slightly, the playback stylus is too. This is generally about 2 degrees, but must be considered an approximation, as it is never exactly 2 degrees off of vertical with the cutterhead.

I imagine that people having difficulty understanding this also find it difficult to visualize other spatial relationships. They may be challenged by geometry, geography, map-reading and navigation, jigsaw puzzles, loading the dishwasher efficiently, assembling a machine from an exploded diagram, etc.

Quiz: most people can draw a rough map of Italy or Michigan from memory. How many can do the same for France or Maryland?

Well, I'm a mathematician so I'm certainly not challenged by geometry but I am challenged to measure 1 or 2 degrees angle on something I can barely see.

Not trying to be dense here but the articles above from TAS and vinyl zone seem to contradict each other on SRA.

The first shows SRA measured off a line running along the back edge of the stylus while the second says it is off a line running through the vertical axis of the stylus.

Whether SRA is worth measuring is another question altogether, one that's been discussed to death on many threads.

My own view is that while I can measure SRA on most styli I choose not to, since I've found it to be a waste of time. SRA differs from record to record, as Atmasphere just noted, so the best way to set it is by ear. Adjust as little or as often as one's ears and listening preferences require.

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The vinyl zone and TAS definitions do contradict, and neither is correct. That's why I posted that the vinyl zone article was "almost" correct.

Re-read my SRA definition above.