Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Rectangular Coordinates
Rectangular coordinates, also known as Cartesian coordinates, represent a point in a two-dimensional space using an ordered pair (x, y). The x-coordinate indicates the horizontal position, while the y-coordinate indicates the vertical position. Understanding how to interpret these coordinates is essential for converting them into polar coordinates.
Recommended video:
Convert Points from Polar to Rectangular
Polar Coordinates
Polar coordinates describe a point in a plane using a distance from a reference point (the origin) and an angle from a reference direction (usually the positive x-axis). The coordinates are expressed as (r, θ), where r is the radial distance and θ is the angle in radians. Converting from rectangular to polar coordinates involves calculating these two values based on the x and y coordinates.
Recommended video:
Intro to Polar Coordinates
Angle Measurement in Radians
In trigonometry, angles can be measured in degrees or radians, with radians being the standard unit in mathematical contexts. One full rotation (360 degrees) is equivalent to 2π radians. When converting rectangular coordinates to polar coordinates, it is crucial to express the angle θ in radians to maintain consistency with trigonometric functions and calculations.
Recommended video:
Converting between Degrees & Radians