Change from polar to rectangular coordinates

In summary, to change from polar to rectangular coordinates, you can multiply the equation by r and then rearrange the terms to get the rectangular coordinates in terms of r and theta.
  • #1
duki
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0

Homework Statement



change from polar to rectangular coordinates

Homework Equations



[tex]\cos{theta}+r^2\sin{theta}=\tan{theta}[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution



I got
[tex]x^2 + y^2 + x + y = \frac{y}{x}\sqrt{x^2+y^2}[/tex]

does that look right?
 
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  • #2
Since [tex]r^2[/tex] is multiplied by [tex]\sin \theta[/tex] rather than added to it, shouldn't it be

[tex]x + (x^2 + y^2)y = \frac{y}{x}\sqrt{x^2 + y^2}[/tex]?
 
  • #3
ooohh thanks
 
  • #4
The simplest way to do this is to multiply the entire equation by r:
[tex]r cos(\theta)+ r^2(r sin(\theta))= r tan(\theta)= r \frac{r sin(\theta)}{r cos(\theta)}[/tex]
so
[tex]x+ (x^2+ y^2)y= \sqrt{x^2+ y^2}\frac{y}{x}[/tex]
 

FAQ: Change from polar to rectangular coordinates

What is the purpose of converting from polar to rectangular coordinates?

Converting from polar to rectangular coordinates allows us to represent points in a two-dimensional space using two different systems. This can be useful in many scientific fields, such as physics, engineering, and mathematics.

How do you convert a point from polar to rectangular coordinates?

To convert a point from polar to rectangular coordinates, you can use the following formulas:
x = r * cos(theta)
y = r * sin(theta)
where r is the distance from the origin to the point, and theta is the angle between the positive x-axis and the line connecting the origin to the point.

What are the advantages of using rectangular coordinates over polar coordinates?

Rectangular coordinates allow for easier calculations and visualizations, as they use a familiar x-y coordinate system. They also make it easier to find the distance between two points and the angle between a point and the x-axis.

Can you convert any point from polar to rectangular coordinates?

Yes, any point can be converted from polar to rectangular coordinates as long as the point's distance from the origin and angle from the positive x-axis are known.

How can converting from polar to rectangular coordinates help in real-life situations?

In real-life situations, converting from polar to rectangular coordinates can be useful for navigation, mapping, and tracking the movement of objects. It is also used in fields such as astronomy to locate celestial objects in the sky.

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