What is the distance between #(-6 , (7 pi)/12 )# and #(4 , pi )#?

1 Answer
Feb 17, 2016

8.03, nearly

Explanation:

The lengths of radii to the points are 6 and 4.
The angle in-between is #7pi/12#
The distance between the points is #sqrt# ((36 +16 - 2 X 4 X 6 X cos #7pi/12#).
Important note:
Better define r as non-negative, for measuring angles in-between vectors. Here, the first point then becomes (6. - #5pi/12#) or (6, #19pi/12#). This point is in the 4th quadrant. #theta# becomes #theta# + #pi# or #theta - pi#, for reversing the direction, for the correct direction..
In your convention ( - 6, #7pi/12# ), #theta# = #7pi/12#is showing the direction opposite to the radius vector to the point.