Exercises for Spherical and Cylindrical Coordinates

Exercise 1
Use the following figure as an aid in identifying the relationship between the rectangular, cylindrical, and spherical coordinate
systems.

For the following exercises, the cylindrical coordinates (r, θ, z) of a point are given. Find the rectangular coordinates (x, y, z)
of the point.
π
1) (4, , 3)
6
Answer
(2√3, 2, 3)
π
2) (3, , 5)
3
7π
3) (4, , 3)
6
Answer
−2√3, −2, 3)

4) (2, π, −4)
For the following exercises, the rectangular coordinates (x, y, z) of a point are given. Find the cylindrical coordinates
(r, θ, z)of the point.
5) (1, √3, 2)

Answer
π
(2, , 2)
3
6) (1, 1, 5)
7) (3, −3, 7)

Answer
π
(3√ 2, − , 7)
4
8) (−2√2, 2√2, 4)
 Exercise 2
For the following exercises, the equation of a surface in cylindrical coordinates is given. Find the equation of the surface in
rectangular coordinates. Identify the surface.
9) r = 4

Answer
A cylinder of equation x2 + y2 = 16, with its center at the origin.

10) z = r2 cos2 θ

11) r2 cos(2θ) + z2 + 1 = 0

Answer
Hyperboloid of two sheets of equation −x2 + y2 − z2 = 1,

12) r = 3sinθ
13) r = 2cosθ

Answer
Cylinder of equation x 2 − 2x + y 2 = 0, with a center at (1, 0, 0) and radius 1,

14) r2 + z2 = 5

15) r = 2secθ

Answer
Plane of equation x = 2,
 Exercise 3
For the following exercises, the spherical coordinates (ρ, θ, φ) of a point are given. Find the rectangular coordinates (x, y, z)
of the point.
16) (3, 0, π)

Answer
(0, 0, −3)
π π
17) (1, , )
6 6
π π
18) (12, − , )
4 4

Answer
(6, −6, √2)

Exercise 4
For the following exercises, the rectangular coordinates (x, y, z) of a point are given. Find the spherical coordinates (ρ, θ, φ)
of the point.

19) (−1, 2, 1)
20) (0, 3, 0)

Answer
(3, 90°, 90°)

21) (−2, 2√3, 4)

Exercise 5
For the following exercises, the equation of a surface in spherical coordinates is given. Find the equation of the surface in
rectangular coordinates. Identify the surface.
22) ρ = 3

Answer
Sphere of equation x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = 9 centered at the origin with radius 3,
23) ρ = 2cosφ
Answer
Sphere of equation x2 + y2 + (z − 1) 2 = 1 centered at (0, 0, 1)with radius 1,
Exercise 6
For the following exercises, the cylindrical coordinates of a point are given. Find its associated spherical coordinates, with the
measure of the angle φ
in radians rounded to four decimal places.
π
24) (1, , 3)
4
Answer
π
(√ 10, , 0.3218)
4
25) (5, π, 12)
π
26) (3, , 3)
2
Answer
π π
(3√ 2, , )
2 4

Exercise 7
For the following exercises, the spherical coordinates of a point are given. Find its associated cylindrical coordinates.
π π
27) (2, − , )
4 2

Answer
π
(2, − , 0)
4

π π
28) (8, , )
3 2
Answer
π
(8, , 0)
3