Precalculus : Polar Coordinates and Complex Numbers

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Precalculus

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Example Questions

Example Question #51 : Polar Coordinates

Write the equation in polar form

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First re-arrange the original equation so that the 4 is factored out on the right side, and put and next to each other:

Make the substitutions and :

take the square root of both sides

divide both sides by r

add to both sides

Example Question #52 : Polar Coordinates

Which is equivalent to ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To convert, substitute and :

  divide both sides by r

multiply both sides by 2

divide both sides by cosine squared

Example Question #53 : Polar Coordinates

Convert to polar form:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Convert by making the substitutions and :

subtract from both sides

factor out r

divide

Example Question #1 : Convert Rectangular Coordinates To Polar Coordinates And Vice Versa

Convert the polar coordinates  to rectangular form.

Possible Answers:

 

Correct answer:

 

Explanation:

We begin by recalling that polar coordinates are expressed in the form , where  is the radius (the distance from the origin to the point) and  is the angle formed between the postive x-axis and the radius.

We can find our x-coordinate and y-coordinate in rectangular form quite easily by keeping in mind two equations.

       or          

       or          

Substituting in both of these gives respectively

Therefore, the rectangular coordinates of our point are 

Example Question #2 : Convert Rectangular Coordinates To Polar Coordinates And Vice Versa

Convert the polar coordinates to rectangular coordinates:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To convert polar coordinates  to rectangular coordinates ,

Using the information given in the question, 

The rectangular coordinates are 

Example Question #3 : Convert Rectangular Coordinates To Polar Coordinates And Vice Versa

Convert the polar coordinates to rectangular coordinates:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To convert polar coordinates  to rectangular coordinates ,

Using the information given in the question, 

The rectangular coordinates are 

Example Question #4 : Convert Rectangular Coordinates To Polar Coordinates And Vice Versa

Convert the polar coordinates to rectangular coordinates:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To convert polar coordinates  to rectangular coordinates ,

Using the information given in the question, 

The rectangular coordinates are 

Example Question #2 : Convert Rectangular Coordinates To Polar Coordinates And Vice Versa

Convert the polar coordinates to rectangular coordinates:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To convert polar coordinates  to rectangular coordinates ,

Using the information given in the question, 

The rectangular coordinates are 

Example Question #3 : Convert Rectangular Coordinates To Polar Coordinates And Vice Versa

Convert the polar coordinates to rectangular coordinates:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To convert polar coordinates  to rectangular coordinates ,

Using the information given in the question, 

The rectangular coordinates are 

Example Question #7 : Convert Rectangular Coordinates To Polar Coordinates And Vice Versa

Convert the polar coordinates to rectangular form:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To convert polar coordinates  to rectangular coordinates ,

Using the information given in the question, 

The rectangular coordinates are 

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