What is the polar form of ( -1,-2 )?

2 Answers
Mar 26, 2016

polar coordinate (sqrt5,tan^-1 2)

Explanation:

x= rcos theta and y =rsintheta
here x = -1 and y = -2
the point is in third quadrant
So tantheta = y/x=(-2)/-1=2
as the point is in 3rd coordinate
:. theta = pi+tan^-1 2
and r = sqrt(x^2+y^2)=sqrt5

polar coordinate (sqrt5,pi+tan^-1 2)

Mar 26, 2016

(sqrt5, pi+tan^(-1)2)

Explanation:

The equations x = -1 = r cos theta and y = -2 = r sin theta give
r = sqrt(x^2+y^2)=sqrt5.

To find theta, observe that both sin theta and cos theta are negative. The angle is in the third quadrant. The first quadrant angle theta=tan^(-1)2. The angle for the opposite direction is the correct value for theta.i

tan (pi+theta) = tan theta
So, theta=pi+tan^(-1)2. .