What is the distance between (-5 ,( 5 pi)/6 ) and (3 , ( pi )/2 )?

1 Answer
Jan 8, 2016

7

Explanation:

by using the distance formula in Polar form :

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

where (r_1 , theta_1) , ( r_2, theta_2 ) are 2 points.

in this case the 2 points are (r_1 , theta_1 ) = (3 , pi/3 )

and (r_2 , theta_2 ) = ( - 5 , (5pi) /6 )

substituting these points into the formula :

d^2 = (- 5 )^2 + 3^2 - (2 xx (- 5 ) xx3 xx cos( (5pi)/6 - (pi/2) )

evaluating : d^2 = 25 + 9 - ( - 30 cos(pi/3 ))

d^2 = 34 - (- 30 xx 1/2 ) = 34 + 15 = 49

rArr d^2 = 49 rArr d = sqrt49 = 7