Rectangular Coordinates: How To Convert Rectangular Coordinates To Polar Coordinates, and Vice-Versa
Rectangular Coordinates: How To Convert Rectangular Coordinates To Polar Coordinates, and Vice-Versa
Rectangular Coordinates: How To Convert Rectangular Coordinates To Polar Coordinates, and Vice-Versa
Rectangular coordinates
Rectangular coordinates and polar coordinates are two different ways of using two numbers
to locate a point on a plane.
Rectangular coordinates are in the form (x,y), where 'x' and 'y' are the horizontal and
vertical distances from the origin. In other words the first figure refers always to the distance
from the origin in direction of the X-axis to the point and the second figure from the origin in
the direction of the Y-axis to the point
The definition of the trigonometric functions cosine and sine in terms the coordinates of
points lying on the unit circle tell us the signs of the trigonometric functions in each of
the four quadrants, based on the signs of the x and y coordinates in each quadrant.
First Quadrant
For an angle in the first quadrant the point P has positive x and y coordinates. Therefore:
In Quadrant I, cos(θ) > 0, sin(θ) > 0 and tan(θ) > 0 (All positive).
2nd Quadrant
For an angle in the second quadrant the point P has negative x coordinate and positive y
coordinate. Therefore: In Quadrant II, cos(θ) < 0, sin(θ) > 0 and tan(θ) < 0 (Sine
positive).
3rd Quadrant
For an angle in the third quadrant the point P has negative x and y coordinates. Therefore:
In Quadrant III, cos(θ) < 0, sin(θ) < 0 and tan(θ) > 0 (Tangent positive).
4th Quadrant
For an angle in the fourth quadrant the point P has positive x coordinate and negative y
coordinate. Therefore: In Quadrant IV, cos(θ) > 0, sin(θ) < 0 and tan(θ) < 0 (Cosine
positive).
The quadrants in which cosine, sine and tangent are positive are often remembered using
a favorite mnemonic.
One example: All Students Take Calculus.
Reference:
http://sriamanmathblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/signs-of-sine-cosine-and-tangent-by.html
(a) A point has rectangular coordinates: (3, 4) as shown in the rectangular coordinates.
Convert this rectangular coordinates to polar coordinates.
Solution: r = square root of (3² + 4²) = 5, θ = tan-1(4/3) = 53.13º
so (r, θ)
θ = (5, 53.13º)
Solution: R = square root of [(- 5)² + 3²] = 5.83, θ = tan-1(3/5) = 180°─ 30.964°
so (r, θ)
θ = [5.83, (180° ─ 30.964°)]
(5.83, 149.04°)
Solution: R = square root of [(- 4)² + (─5)²] = 6.4, θ = tan-1(5/4) = 180°─ 51.34°
so (r, θ)
θ = [5.83, (180° + 51.34°)]
(5.83, 231.34°)
(d) A point has rectangular coordinates: (3², ─1) (point is in 4th quadrant)
Polar Coordinates
In Surveying 2 the rectangular coordinate system is seldom use, but familiarity with the polar
coordinate system is essential for the practical exercises.
Polar to Rectangular
x = r x cos θ, y = r x sin θ
So the polar point: (r,θ) can be converted to rectangular coordinates like this:
( r x cos θ, r x sin θ ) ( x, y )
0° 33
21 0° between the axis and OP is measure
.4
(6
in a anticlockwise direction
The polar coordinates in the
0°
(c)
30
0°
270°
(a) A point has polar coordinates: (5, 53.13°) as s hown in the above diagram.
(b) A point has polar coordinates: (5.83, 149.04°) as shown in the above diagram.
(c) A point has polar coordinates: (6.4, 218.66°) a s shown in the above diagram.
Solution: (x,y) = (6.4 x cos 231.34°, 6.4 x sin 231.34°) = (─4, ─5)
(a) A point has polar coordinates: (3.16, 341.57°) as shown in the above diagram.
Solution: (x,y) = (3.16 x cos 341.57º, 3.16 x sin 341.57º) = (3, ─1)
I you like to the experiment with rectangular or cartesian and polar coordinate systems
access the web page below.
There are three applets (1) rectangular (Cartesian) coordinates, (2) Coordinate systems and
(3) polar coordinates that's great fun to play with.
http://www.univie.ac.at/future.media/moe/galerie/zeich/zeich.html