<    1      2    >

---

Polar coordinates

Each point in a plane can be described with polar coordinates, which are indicated by

(r, θ)

 

---

Explanation

Where r is a positive real number that specifies the distance from the origin. The Greek letter θ (theta) is a real number that specifies the angle with the x-axis.

Polar coordinates are used in the polar form

x = r · e ^φ

 

---

Example 1

You can convert the rectangular coordinates (x, y) in the polar coordinates (r, θ)

(x = 1, y = √3)   −−>   (r = 2, θ = 60°)

 

---

Example 2

You can convert the polar coordinates (r, θ) in the rectangular coordinates (x, y)

(r = 2, θ = 60°)   −−>   (x = 1, y = 1.732050808)

 

---

History Flemish mathematician Grégoire de Saint-Vincent and Italian mathematician Bonaventura Cavalieri independently introduced this concept in the 17th century. The term polar coordinates is attributed to Italian mathematician Gregorio Fontana in the 18th century.

---

العربية   Deutsch   Español   Français   Nederlands   中文   Русский