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Points are
represented by a
radius and an angle
radius
(r, )
To plot the point
5,
4
First find the angle
Then move out along
the terminal side 5
A negative angle would be measured clockwise like usual.
3
3,
4
To plot a point
with a negative
radius, find the
terminal side of
the angle but then
measure from the
pole in the
negative direction
of the terminal
side.
2
4,
3
Let's plot the following points:
7, 7,
2 2
5 3
7, 7,
2 2
3
r=5
4
tan
3
We'll find in radians
4
polar coordinates are: (5, 0.93) tan 0.93
1
3
Let's generalize this to find formulas for converting from
rectangular to polar coordinates.
(x, y)
x y r
2 2 2
r
y
r x y 2 2
x
y
tan
x
y
tan 1
x
Now let's go the other way, from polar to rectangular
coordinates.
Based on the trig you
know can you see
how to find x and y?
4,
x
4
4 y cos
4
x 4 4
2
x 4 2 2
2
y
sin
rectangular coordinates are: 4 4
2 2 2
,
2 2 y 4 2 2
2
Let's generalize the conversion from polar to rectangular
coordinates.
x
cos
r
r ,
r x r cos
y
x
y
sin
r
y r sin
Polar coordinates can also be given with the angle in
degrees.
120
90
60
(8, 210°)
135 45
150 30
180
(6, -120°)
0
210
315
330
(-5, 300°)
225
300
240
270
(-3, 540°)
Convert the rectangular coordinate system equation to a
polar coordinate system equation. r x 2 y 2
From conversions, how
x y 9
2 2 r 3 was r related to x 2 and y 2 ?
Here each r
unit is 1/2 and
we went out 3
and did all
angles.
x r cos
r cos 2
4 r sin
y r sin
r cos 4r sin
2 2
I wish to thank Shawna Haider from Salt Lake Community College, Utah
USA for her hard work in creating this PowerPoint.
www.slcc.edu
Stephen Corcoran
Head of Mathematics
St Stephen’s School – Carramar
www.ststephens.wa.edu.au