What is the distance between (-3 , (19 pi)/12 ) and (-1 , pi/4 )?

1 Answer
Dec 1, 2016

d~~3.61

Explanation:

Each point on a polar plane is represented by the ordered pair (r,theta).

So lets call the coordinates of P_1 as (r_1,theta_1) and coordinates of P_2 as (r_2,theta_2) . To find the distance between two points on a polar plane use the formula d=sqrt((r_1) ^2+(r_2)^2-2r_1r_2cos(theta_2-theta_1))

Thererfore using the points (-3,(19pi)/12) and (-1,(pi)/4), and the formula

d=sqrt((r_1) ^2+(r_2)^2-2r_1r_2cos(theta_2-theta_1))

we have

d=sqrt((-3) ^2+(-1)^2-2*-3*-1cos((pi)/4-(19pi)/12))

:. d~~3.61