Polar Coordinates and Rectangular Coordinates

Rectangular Coordinates : ( x, y )
Polar Coordinates : ( r, θ ) (r > 0)

The two coordinate systems are related by the following two sets of formula.
x 2 + y 2 = r 2
 x = r cos θ 
 ……(1) and  y ……(2)
 y = r sin θ tan θ =
 x

Use (1) when we need to find polar coordinates.

Use (2) when we need to find rectangular coordinates.

Example
Ex 1 Given A = (3, 60°) and C = (6, 240°), find the length of AC. [Mock Paper 2#31]
Rewrite back to rectangular coordinates using (1)
A = (3 cos 60°, 3 sin 60°)
C = (6 cos 240°, 6 sin 240°)

AC 2 = (3 cos 60o − 6 cos 240o ) 2 + (3 sin 60o − 6 sin 240o ) 2

= 81
AC = 9

Ex 2
2007.30 If the rectangle coordinates of the point A are (−1, 1), then the polar coordinates of A are
A. (1, 135°). B. (1, 225°).
C. ( 2 , 135°) . D. ( 2 , 225°).

To find the polar coordinates of A(−1, 1), use (2):

r 2 = x 2 + y 2 = 12 + (−1) 2 = 2
r= 2
1
tan θ = = −1
−1
θ = 135° or 315° (rejected, as A is in 2nd quadrant)
∴ A = ( 2 , 135°)