Polar Coordinate System  

Robert P. Munafo, 1999 Feb 2.

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Polar coordinates, based on an angle and a radius, are used as an alternative to simple X and Y coordinates when dealing with certain applications that require specifying locations on the Complex plane.

Consider a point P = a + bi shown here on the complex plane:

: b .P : ..'' : ..'' .........+.::.........a.. :

The distance from the origin to P is the radius and is also the absolute value of the complex number P. The absolute value, signified by P, is sqrt(a² + b²).

%%discuss effects of multiplication on angle and radius, etc.

.P. A. ..' ``.. ``.. ..' ``.. ``.. ..'T .........:Q `+''''''''''''   A = P-Q   (sin T) (|P|+|Q|)/2

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From the Mandelbrot Set Glossary and Encyclopedia, by Robert Munafo, (c) 1987-2012.     Mu-ency index

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