Finding Distance Between Polar Coordinates

Key Questions

  • What's the difference in finding the distance between two polar coordinates and two rectangular coordinate?

    Hello,

    • In a orthonormal basis, the distance between A(x,y)A(x,y) and A'(x',y') is

    d = sqrt((x-x')^2 + (y-y')^2).

    • With polar coordinates, A[t, theta] and A'[r',theta'], you have to write the relations :

    x = r cos theta, y = r sin theta
    x' = r' cos theta', y' = r' sin theta',

    So,

    d = sqrt((r cos theta - r' cos theta')^2 + (r sin theta - r' sin theta')^2 )

    Develop, and use the formula cos^2 x + sin^2 x = 1. So you get :

    d = sqrt(r^2 - 2 rr' (cos theta cos theta' + sin theta sin theta')+ r'^2)

    Finally, you know that cos theta cos theta' + sin theta sin theta' = cos(theta - theta'), therefore,

    d = sqrt(r^2 + r'^2 - 2rr' cos(theta - theta')).

    vince · 1 · Mar 11 2015
  • Why do you need to find the distance between two polar coordinates?

    Let say you have points A(r_1,θ_1),Β(r_2,θ_2) you must convert them to cartesian coordinates A(x_1,y_1),Β(x_2,y_2) and then use the distance formula D=sqrt((x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2)

    Konstantinos Michailidis · 1 · Sep 12 2015
  • What is the formula for the distance between two polar coordinates?

    Answer:

    See below.

    Explanation:

    Given in cartesian coordinates.

    P_1=(x_1,y_1) and P_2= (x_2,y_2)

    the transition formulas

    {(x=r cos theta),(y=r sin theta):}

    then

    (x_1,y_1) rArr (r_1 cos theta_1, r_1 sin theta_1)
    (x_2,y_2) rArr (r_2 cos theta_2, r_2 sin theta_2)

    so

    d = sqrt((x_1-x_2)^2+(y_1-y_2)^2) rArr sqrt((r_1 costheta_1-r_2 cos theta_2)^2+(r_1 sin theta_1-r_2 sin theta_2)^2)

    then

    d = sqrt(r_1^2+r_2^2-2r_1r_2(cos theta_1 cos theta_2+sin theta_1 sin theta_2)) = sqrt(r_1^2+r_2^2-2r_1r_2cos (theta_1 -theta_2))

    Cesareo R. · 4 · Jun 13 2017

Questions

Polar Coordinates