How do you convert the Cartesian coordinates (3,2) to polar coordinates?

1 Answer
Gió
Jul 9, 2015

I found: (3.6,33.7°)

Explanation:

To express the position of your point P in polar coordinates you need to supply the length r of the segment joining your point to the origin and the angle theta formed by this segment with the positive side of the x axis:
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From Pythagoras Theorem you get:
r=sqrt(3^2+2^2)=sqrt(9+4)=sqrt(13)=3.6
From trigonometry you get that:
theta=arctan(2/3)=tan^-1(2/3)=33.7°

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