Distance Between Polar Points Lesson

Lesson Objectives
Learn how to find the angle between two polar points

Learn how to find the distance between two polar points

How to Find the Distance Between Two Polar Points

In this lesson, we will learn how to find the distance between points on the

polar plane. Previously, we have learned how to find the distance between two

points (x1, y1), (x2, y2) on the rectangular plane using the distance formula:

√ 2 2
d = (x2 − x1) + (y2 − y1)

Let's suppose we were asked to find the distance between two points given

with polar coordinates:

(r1, θ1), (r2, θ2)

We could convert these polar coordinates to rectangular coordinates and then

use the distance formula, however, there is a simpler approach. Let's consider

finding the distance between the two polar points:

(4, 105°), (3, 225°)

Let's plot our two points on the polar grid:

5° 90° 75°
10
0° 60
12 °
5°

45
13

°
0°

30
15

°
165°

15°
180°

1 2 3 4 5 6
θ = 0°
°

3
5

4
9

5
1

°
°

33
0
21

0°
°

3
5

1
2

5
2

0° 30
24 0°
255° 285°
270°

Let's first consider the angle between the two points:

5° 90° 75°
10
0° 60
12 °
5°

45
13

°
0°

30
15

°
165°

15°
180°

1 2 3 4 5 6
θ = 0°
°

3
5

4
9

5
1

°
°

33
0
21

0°
°

3
5

1
2

5
2

0° 30
24 0°
255° 285°
270°

We need to rotate 105° counterclockwise to get from the polar axis to the first

point (4, 105°). Additionally, we need to rotate 225° counterclockwise to get

from the polar axis to the second point. The angle between the two points

(120°) would be found by subtracting the larger angle 225° minus the smaller

angle 105°:

5° 90° 75°
10
0° 60
12 °
5°

45
13

°
0°

30
15

°
165°

15°
180°

1 2 3 4 5 6
θ = 0°
°

3
5

4
9

5
1

°
°

33
0
21

0°
°

3
5

1
2

5
2

0° 30
24 0°
255° 285°
270°

Now that we have found the angle between the two points, let's draw a line

segment connecting these two points. The length of this line segment is the

distance between the two points.

5° 90° 75°
10
0° 60
12 °
5°

45
13

°
0°

30
15

°
165°

15°
180°

1 2 3 4 5 6
θ = 0°
°

3
5

4
9

5
1

°
°

33
0
21

0°
°

3
5

1
2

5
2

0° 30
24 0°
255° 285°
270°

Now, let's form a triangle by drawing a line segment from the pole to (4, 105°)

and another from the pole to (3, 225°):

5° 90° 75°
10
0° 60
12 °
5°

45
13

°
0°

30
15

°
165°

15°
180°

1 2 3 4 5 6
θ = 0°
°

3
5

4
9

5
1

°
°

33
0
21

0°
°

3
5

1
2

5
2

0° 30
24 0°
255° 285°
270°

Consider that we have SAS, which allows us to use the law of cosines to find

our missing side length.

In any triangle ABC, with sides a, b, and c:

2 2 2
a = b + c − 2bc cos A

Let's call our unknown side a, this will be the distance between the two polar

points. The other two known sides will be b and c:

2 2 2
a = 4 + 3 − 2(4)(3) ⋅ cos120°

1
2
a = 16 + 9 − (24 ⋅ − )
2

2
a = 25 − (−12)

2
a = 37

a = √ 37

This tells us the distance between the two points (4, 105°) and (3, 225°) is

√ 37 .

Formula for Finding the Distance Between Two Polar Points

Let's now generalize our results into a nice formula.

(r1, θ1), (r2, θ2)

We will just plug into the law of cosines with r1 and r2 representing our two

known sides and the angle between the two sides will be given as (θ2 - θ1):

2 2 2
a = b + c − 2bc cos A

We will use d for distance instead of a, the unknown side length:

2 2 2
d = (r1) + (r2) − 2(r1)(r2) ⋅ cos(θ2 − θ1)

√ 2 2
d = (r1) + (r2) − 2(r1)(r2) ⋅ cos(θ2 − θ1)

Let's look at a few examples.

Example #1: Find the distance between the polar points.

(2, 120°), (4, 210°)

Let's just use the left point as the first point and the right point as the second

point. Note, the labeling doesn't matter. We will get the same answer either

way:

√ 2 2
d = 2 + 4 − 2(2)(4) ⋅ cos(210° − 120°)

d = √ 4 + 16 − (16 ⋅ cos(90°))

d = √ 20 − (16 ⋅ 0)

d = √ 20

d = 2√ 5

If we reversed the labeling, we would end up with cos(-90°).

Recall the negative angle identity for cosine:

cos(−θ) = cos θ

Therefore, we would have the same answer either way.

Example #2: Find the distance between the polar points.

7π π
(3, ), (2, )
6 2

Let's again use the left point as the first point and the right point as the second

point:

π 7π
√ 2 2
d = 3 + 2 − 2(3)(2) ⋅ cos ( − )
2 6

π 7π
d = √ 9 + 4 − (12 ⋅ cos ( − ))
2 6


3π 7π
d = √ 13 − (12 ⋅ cos ( − ))
6 6

4π
d = √ 13 − (12 ⋅ cos (− ))
6

2π
d = √ 13 − (12 ⋅ cos (− ))
3

Use the negative angle identity for cosine:

2π
d = √ 13 − (12 ⋅ cos ( ))
3

1
d = √ 13 − (12 ⋅ − )
2

d = √ 13 − (−6)

d = √ 19

When we are given a problem with a negative r-value, a negative angle, or an

angle that is larger than 360°, we can use the formula as given. If it helps, you

can also write the point in a different form with a positive radius and positive

angle between 0° (inclusive) and 360° (exclusive). Let's look at a few

examples.

Example #3: Find the distance between the polar points.

(4, −30°), (4, 210°)

For the first point, we have a negative angle. We can work with the angle as is

or we can find a coterminal angle by adding 360°. This will locate another form

of the same point. Either way, the answer will be the same. Let's try it both

ways and think about why this works.

Plug into the formula, use the left point as the first point and the right point as

the second point:

√ 2 2
d = 4 + 4 − 2(4)(4) ⋅ cos(210 − (−30))

d = √ 32 − (32 ⋅ cos(240))

1
d = √ 32 − (32 ⋅ − )
2

d = √ 32 − (−16)

d = √ 48

d = 4√ 3

Let's now work the problem in a different way. Let's find a coterminal angle for

-30° by adding 360°:

−30° + 360° = 330°

Our new polar coordinates locate the same point but now we have an angle

between 0° (inclusive) and 360° (exclusive).

(4, 330°), (4, 210°)

Plug into the formula, use the left point as the first point and the right point as

the second point:

√ 2 2
d = 4 + 4 − 2(4)(4) ⋅ cos(210° − 330°)

d = √ 16 + 16 − 32 ⋅ cos(−120°)

Use the negative angle identity for cosine:

d = √ 32 − (32 ⋅ cos(120°))

1
d = √ 32 − (32 ⋅ − )
2

d = √ 32 − (−16)

d = √ 48

d = 4√ 3

You can see that we get the same answer either way and might be wondering

why? Let's take a look at our points on the polar grid:

5° 90° 75°
10
0° 60
12 °
5°

45
13

°
0°

30
15

°
165°

15°
180°

1 2 3 4 5 6
θ = 0°
°

3
5

4
9

5
1

°
°

33
0
21

0°
°

3
5

1
2

5
2

0° 30
24 0°
255° 285°
270°

Let's think about a simple identity:

cos(360° − θ) = cos θ

We can prove this using the difference identity for cosine:

cos(360° − θ) = cos 360° cos θ + sin 360° sin θ

cos(360° − θ) = 1 cos θ + 0

cos(360° − θ) = cos θ

This tells us that it doesn't matter if we find the angle between the polar points

or the angle on the outside. The cosine value will be the same either way, so

we can use the formula with any negative angles that we come across.

Example #4: Find the distance between the polar points.

(−3, −165°), (4, 45°)

For the first point, we have a negative r-value and a negative angle. We can

work with this point as given or change it over by adding 180° to the angle and

changing the r-value to positive.

(3, 15°), (4, 45°)

Plug into the formula, use the left point as the first point and the right point as

the second point:

√ 2 2
d = 3 + 4 − 2(3)(4) ⋅ cos(45° − 15°)

d = √ 9 + 16 − 24 ⋅ cos(30°)


√3
d = 25 − (24 ⋅ )
⎷ 2

√
d = 25 − 12√ 3

If we wanted to skip the conversion, our formula would work just fine. Let's

plug in the polar points as given.

Plug into the formula, use the left point as the first point and the right point as

the second point:

√ 2 2
d = (−3) + 4 − 2(−3)(4) ⋅ cos(45 − (−165°))

d = √ 9 + 16 + 24 ⋅ cos(210°)


√3
d = 25 + (24 ⋅ − )
⎷ 2

√
d = 25 − 12√ 3

Again, let's pause for a minute and think about why this works. When we have

a negative r-value, this changes our sign in the middle part to positive. This is

countered by the fact that changing to a positive r-value means the angle is

increased by 180°. Let's think about the following identity.

cos(θ + 180°) = −cos θ

We can prove this using the sum identity for cosine:

cos(θ + 180°) = −cos θ

cos(θ + 180°) = cos θ cos 180° − sin θ sin 180°

cos(θ + 180°) = −1 ⋅ cos θ − 0

cos(θ + 180°) = −cos θ