How do you write the equation using rectangular coordinates given theta=pi/3?

1 Answer
Mar 16, 2018

y=sqrt3x

Explanation:

There are several equalities used to convert between rectangular and polar coordinates. For a list and good explanation as to why they work, see How do you convert rectangular coordinates to polar coordinates?

In this case, as we have no r to consider, we will only need

y/x=tanθ

Multiplying both sides by x gives

y=xtanθ

Now substituting θ=π/3 we get

y=xtan(π/3)

=>y=sqrt3x

Note that this is as expected, as the polar plot θ=π/3 takes on all
r for values for the angle π/3, forming a straight line.