How do you convert (6, -6) into polar coordinates?

1 Answer
Jan 31, 2016

The point that has coordinates (6, -6) in rectangular coordinates has the polar coordinates (sqrt72, -pi/4) or (8.5, -0.79) or (to give a positive value to theta) as (sqrt72, (7pi)/4).

Explanation:

Polar coordinates are in the form (r,theta) where r is the distance from the origin (0, 0) to the point and theta is the angle in radians from the positive x-axis.

To find the radius, use:

r=sqrt(6^2+(-6)^2) = sqrt(36+36) = sqrt72 = 8.5

(some may prefer to leave it in the form sqrt72)

To find the value of theta, know that 6 is the opposite and -6 is the adjacent side of a right-angled triangle, so:

tan theta = 6/-6 = -1

Therefore theta=tan^-1(-1) = -pi/4 rad.

This means the polar coordinates can be expressed as (sqrt72, -pi/4) or (8.5, -0.79) or (to give a positive value to theta) as (sqrt72, (7pi)/4).