What are the components of the vector between the origin and the polar coordinate (-16, (-pi)/4)?

1 Answer
Feb 27, 2018

x = -16 * cos (-pi/4 )= -16 * (1/sqrt2) = color (green)(-8sqrt2

y = -16 * sin (-pi/4 )= -16 * (-1/sqrt2) = color (green)(8sqrt2

Explanation:

We can use the following formulas to convert polar to Cartesian coordinates.

x = r cos theta, y = r sin theta

Given : [r,theta] = [-16, -pi/4]

x = -16 * cos (-pi/4 )= -16 * (1/sqrt2) = color (green)(-8sqrt2

y = -16 * sin (-pi/4 )= -16 * (-1/sqrt2) = color (green)(8sqrt2

tan theta = tan (-pi/4) = -1