How do you express the Cartesian coordinates (sqrt(3)/2, 1/2) as polar coordinates?

1 Answer
Nov 17, 2016

The polar coordinate are =(1,pi/6)

Explanation:

To convert from cartesian coordinares (x,y) to polar coordinates (r,theta), we use

x=rcostheta

y=rsintheta

x^2+y^2=r^2

Here, (x,y)=(sqrt3/2,1/2)

Therefore, r^2=3/4+1/4=1

r=1

And, costheta=x/r=sqrt3/2

and sintheta=y/r=1/2

So , we are in the first quadrant and theta=pi/6

The polar coordinates are (1,pi/6)