# How do you convert polar equations to rectangular equations?

Jan 8, 2015

To convert an equation given in polar form (in the variables $r$ and $\theta$) into rectangular form (in $x$ and $y$) you use the transformation relationships between the two sets of coordinates:
$x = r \cdot \cos \left(\theta\right)$
$y = r \cdot \sin \left(\theta\right)$

You have to remember that your equation may need some algebraic/trigonometric manipulations before being transformed into rectangular form; for example, consider:

$r \left[- 2 \sin \left(\theta\right) + 3 \cos \left(\theta\right)\right] = 2$
$- 2 r \sin \left(\theta\right) + 3 r \cos \left(\theta\right) = 2$

Now you use the above transformations, and get:

$- 2 y + 3 x = 2$
Which is the equation of a straight line!

A more complicated situation can be the following example:
$\theta + \frac{\pi}{4} = 0$
You can write:
$\theta = - \frac{\pi}{4}$
Take the tangent of both sides and multiply and divide by $r$ the left side:
$\frac{r}{r} \cdot \tan \left(\theta\right) = \tan \left(- \frac{\pi}{4}\right)$
$\frac{r \sin \left(\theta\right)}{r \cos \left(\theta\right)} = - 1$
Transforming you get:
$\frac{y}{x} = - 1$
$y = - x$