Question

How do you find the rectangular coordinates of the point with polar coordinates `(5,pi/2)`?

Answer 1

To convert from from polar coordinates to rectangular coordinates, we must remember these:

`x = rcostheta`
`y = rsintheta`

It's useful to remember these when we need to do these types of conversions. Knowing the `r` and `theta` from our question, we can find the rectangular coordinates:

`r=5`

`theta=pi/2`

`x=(5)cos(pi/2) = (5)(0) = 0`
`y=(5)sin(pi/2) = (5)(1) = 5`

Therefore, our rectangular coordinates are:

`(0,5)`