A tool that converts a point described by its horizontal (x) and vertical (y) distances from an origin (Cartesian coordinates) into a point described by its distance from the origin (radius, r) and the angle (theta, ) it makes with the positive x-axis (polar coordinates). For example, a point at (x=1, y=1) in Cartesian coordinates would be represented as (r=2, =45) in polar coordinates.
This conversion facilitates calculations and representations in fields such as physics, engineering, and mathematics. Polar coordinates often simplify problems involving circular symmetry or rotational motion. The conversion methods stem from trigonometric relationships (r = (x + y) and = arctan(y/x)) which were historically developed alongside the broader understanding of coordinate systems in mathematics.