HP Forum Archive 17

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

Polar Coordinates Message #1 Posted by Sara on 19 Apr 2007, 10:28 a.m. I don't know how to convert from regular to polar coordinates (&back) on my HP 50g. Any ideas? Thanks

Re: Polar Coordinates Message #2 Posted by Vieira, L. C. (Brazil) on 19 Apr 2007, 11:40 a.m., in response to message #1 by Sara Hi; the HP50G deals with number representation for both polar and rectangular coordinates in a way you can show each representation without actually converting the numbers themselves. Anyway, in the MODES menu you can choose either rectangular or polar representation. The calculator will not actually convert the number, just show it in the selected mode. Given a complex number in any format in the display, the HP50G has the following functions: ARG - returns the angle of the polar representation ABS - returns the absolute value of the polar representation RE - 'extracts' the real part of the number IM - 'extracts' the complex part You can download this training module and this other one for further information. Luiz (Brazil) Edited: 19 Apr 2007, 11:44 a.m.

Re: Polar Coordinates Message #3 Posted by Hal Bitton on 19 Apr 2007, 12:12 p.m., in response to message #1 by Sara Hi Sara, Go to the MTH menu (left shifted SYMB key), and the VECTR sub menu (far left), and press NXT. You will see RECT (rectangular) and CYLIN (polar) soft key labels on the far left. Enter your coordinates in a suitable format (x,y) for rectangular, or (magnitide,<angle) for polar (note that the less than symbol really represents the angle symbol, which is accessed by ALPHA right shift 6 on the calculator. Once you get the coordinates on level 1 of the stack, simply select rectangular or cylindrical (using the F1 and F2 soft keys) to convert. If you key in coordinates in one system (say rectangular), and the the other system is selected (in this case CYLIN), the conversion will take place as soon as you hit the enter key, and vise-versa. This is rather keystroke intensive compared to the old machines (where you just threw two numbers onto the stack and hit the P<R key), but bear in mind that with the 50G, you don't have to convert to do vector arithmatic. (I.E. you can add two sets of polar coordinates without having to convert them to rectangular and back again...the calculator will do that for you). Best regards, Hal

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

Go back to the main exhibit hall