This calculator converts inputs as polar coordinates to cartesian coordinates (and vice versa). A degree to radian converter (and vice versa) is also provided.
Calculation
Polar Coordinate to Cartesian Coordinate
Inputs
Polar Coordinate
(r,θ)
r
:200.0
θ
:222.0deg
Output
Cartesian Coordinate
(x,y)
x-coordinate
:-148.6
y-coordinate
:-133.8
x=rcos(θ),y=rsin(θ)
Output Graph
Can’t display the image because of an internal error. Our team is looking at the issue.
Cartesian Coordinate to Polar Coordinate
Inputs
Cartesian Coordinate
(x,y)
x-coordinate (1)
:5.0
y-coordinate (1)
:-8.0
Output
Polar Coordinate
(r,θ)
r (1)
:9.4
θ (1)
:-58.0deg
r=x2+y2,θ=tan−1(xy)
Output Graph
Can’t display the image because of an internal error. Our team is looking at the issue.
Radian Degree Converter
Radians to Degrees:
Radians
:0.23rad
Degrees
:13.18deg
θ°=(θc)×(π180)
Degrees to Radians:
Degrees (1)
:114.59deg
Radians (1)
:2.00rad
θc=(θ°)×(180π)
The symbol for radians is
θc
and the symbol for degrees is
θ°
.
Explanation
Polar and cartesian coordinates can be used to describe location, orientation or direction in a two-dimensional space at any time.
What is the polar coordinate system?
The polar coordinate system describes the location of a point in a 2D plane by defining a fixed point away from the origin, called the pole, and an angle moving counter-clockwise from the positive x-axis. A polar coordinate is expressed as
(r,θ)
where
r
is the pole and
θ
is the direction of movement.
Polar coordinate system
What is the cartesian coordinate system?
The cartesian coordinate system, however, describes the location of a point in a 2D plane using a pair of numbers called an ordered pair. The ordered pair is expressed as
(x,y)
where
x
is the distance away from the origin along the horizontal axis and
y
is the distance away from the origin along the vertical axis. Direction in the cartesian coordinate system is expressed as a positive or a negative sign.
Cartesian coordinate system
Converting between coordinate systems
Discover how to convert between the two coordinate systems in the toggles below.
Converting between polar and cartesian coordinates
Converting Polar Coordinates to Cartesian Coordinates
With the concept of right triangles and trigonometric equations, it is possible to convert polar coordinates
(r,θ)
to cartesian coordinates
(x,y)
.
The relationship of the x-coordinate and y-coordinate is expressed as:
x=rcos(θ)
y=rsin(θ)
where
θ
is in radians.
Converting Cartesian Coordinates to Polar Coordinates
The same concept can be used in converting cartesian coordinates to polar coordinates. Their relationship is expressed as: