Cartesian and Polar Coordinates
Cartesian Coordinates
In a system formed by a point, O, and an orthonormal basis at each point, P, there is acorresponds a vector, 
, in the plane such that:
The coefficients x and y of the linear combination are called coordinates of point P.
The first, x, is the abscissa.
The second, y, is the ordinate.
As the linear combination is unique, each point corresponds to a pair of numbers and a each pair of numbers to a point.
Polar Coordinates
When the length, r, and the angle, α, (it makes with the x-axis), of the vector are known, the polar coordinates of P are (r, α):
Polar-Cartesian Coordinate Conversion
x = r · cos α
y = r · sen α
Examples
Convert the following polar coordinates to the cartesian system:
(2, 120º)
(1, 0º)= (1, 0)
(1, 180º) = (−1, 0)
(1, 90º) = (0, 1)
(1, 270º) = −(0, −1)
Cartesian-Polar Coordinate Conversion
Magnitude
Angle
Examples
Convert the following cartesian coordinates to the polar system:
(2, 60º)
(2, 120º)
(2, 240º)
(2, 300º)
(2, 0)
20º
(−2, 0)
(2, 180º)
(0, 2)
(2, 90º)
(0, −2)
(2, 270º)
