How do you convert the cartesian coordinate (2, -4) into polar coordinates? Precalculus Polar Coordinates Converting Coordinates from Rectangular to Polar 1 Answer Bdub Sep 11, 2017 see below Explanation: Use the formulas x^2 + y^2 =r^2 and tan theta =y/x r^2=(2)^2+(-4)^2=4+16=20 r=sqrt20 = 2sqrt5~~4.472 tan theta = -4/2 theta=tan^-1 -2 theta ~~-1.107 :.(r,theta)~~ (4.472, -1.107) Answer link Related questions What are the polar coordinates of (0, -2)? What are the polar coordinates of (-4, 0)? What are the polar coordinates of (3, 4)? What are the polar coordinates of (-2,0)? How do I convert Cartesian coordinates to polar coordinates? How do I find the polar form of a+bi? How do I find the polar form of 3sqrt2 - 3sqrt2i? How do you change (4, -1) from rectangular to cylindrical coordinates between [0, 2π)? How do you change (0,3,-3) from rectangular to spherical coordinates? How do you find the rectangular coordinates if you given the cylindrical coordinate (5, pi/6, 5)? See all questions in Converting Coordinates from Rectangular to Polar Impact of this question 4133 views around the world You can reuse this answer Creative Commons License