adjective
polar
Describing position by distance and angle from a fixed point.
The student plots the point using polar coordinates.
Etymology
Polar coordinates use a fixed point, called the pole, as their reference. Distance from that point and angle around it determine a position.
More examples
- The graph uses a polar grid.
- A polar equation describes the curve.
- She converted the values to polar form.
Forms
polar
Similar words
- Cartesian
- Cartesian coordinates use perpendicular axes rather than radius and angle.
- radial
- Radial concerns distance or direction from a center but not a full coordinate system.