How do you convert (1,-2) into polar form?

1 Answer
Sep 4, 2017

(sqrt5, -1.107)

Explanation:

We're asked to convert a rectangular coordinate into its polar form.

To do this, we can use the equations

  • r^2 = x^2 + y^2

  • tantheta = y/x

We have

r^2 = 1^2 + (-2)^2

color(red)(r) = sqrt(1^2 + (-2)^2) = color(red)(ul(sqrt5

tantheta = (-2)/1

color(red)(theta) = arctan((-2)/1) = color(red)(-1.107) (radians)

The coordinate is thus

color(blue)(ulbar(|stackrel(" ")(" "(sqrt5, -1.107)" ")|)