Chapter 6: Problem 50
In Exercises \(43-60,\) a point in rectangular coordinates is given. Convert the point to polar coordinates. $$(0,5)$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The point (0,5) in rectangular coordinates corresponds to (5, \(\frac{\pi}{2}\)) in polar coordinates.
Step by step solution
01
Calculate r
Firstly, we calculate the radial coordinate r. The formula to find r is \(r = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2}\). Here, x = 0 and y = 5 so \(r= \sqrt{0^2 + 5^2} = \sqrt{25} = 5\)
02
Calculate θ
To find the angular coordinate θ, we generally use the inverse tangent function with y as the numerator and x as the denominator, i.e., \(θ = \arctan(\frac{y}{x})\). Here, x = 0 and y = 5, so \(θ = \arctan(\frac{5}{0})\). However, arctan is not defined when the denominator is 0, as we have in this case. Instead, knowing that we're on the positive y-axis, we set the angle θ to be either \(θ = 90^{\circ}\) or \(θ = \frac{\pi}{2}\) radians.
03
Write down the point in polar coordinates
The point in polar coordinates is then given by (r, θ). From step 1 and 2, we have r = 5 and \(θ = \frac{\pi}{2}\) So the polar coordinates are given by (5, \(\frac{\pi}{2}\))
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Rectangular Coordinates
Rectangular coordinates, also known as Cartesian coordinates, are a fundamental concept in mathematics. They are used to specify the position of a point in a two-dimensional plane. A point in rectangular coordinates is defined by an ordered pair \(x, y\). This means:
- \(x\) is the horizontal position relative to the origin (0,0).
- \(y\) is the vertical position relative to the origin.
Radial Coordinate
The radial coordinate, denoted by \(r\), is a crucial component of polar coordinates. Unlike the straightforward horizontal and vertical measurements of rectangular coordinates, the radial coordinate represents:
- The distance of the point from the origin (0,0).
Angular Coordinate
The angular coordinate in polar coordinates, denoted \(θ\), is the angle measurement from the positive x-axis to the line connecting the origin and the point. It provides the direction in which the radius \(r\) is pointing. This angle is typically measured in radians or degrees.
- For a point on the positive y-axis, the angle is \(90^{\circ}\) or \(\frac{\pi}{2}\) radians.
Inverse Tangent Function
The inverse tangent function, often written as \( an^{-1}\) or \( ext{arctan}\), is used to determine the angle \(θ\) from a given slope, which is the ratio of the change in \(y\) to \(x\) (i.e., \(\frac{y}{x}\)). It is a fundamental tool in converting coordinates from rectangular to polar form.
- It returns the angle in radians or degrees.
- Simplifies the trigonometric calculation of angle given a slope.