Transform from polar to cartesian

In summary, the probability distribution for a uniform distribution on the unit circle can be expressed in polar coordinates as ##dg(r,a)=\frac{1}{2\pi}\delta(r-1)rdrda##, which transforms into ##df(x,y)=\frac{1}{2\pi}\delta(\sqrt{x^2+y^2}-1)dxdy##. The issue with this distribution is that the second integral results in a value of 1/2 instead of 1. To solve this problem, the distribution is transformed into a univariate distribution by setting ##\Theta## to be uniformly distributed in the interval [0,2\pi] and then determining X = cos##\Theta## and Y = sin
  • #1
mathman
Science Advisor
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TL;DR Summary
Integrand defined on unit circle. Express in (x,y) coordinates.
Probability distribution - uniform on unit circle. In polar coordinates ##dg(r,a)=\frac{1}{2\pi}\delta(r-1)rdrda##. This transforms in ##df(x,y)=\frac{1}{2\pi}\delta(\sqrt{x^2+y^2}-1)dxdy##. The problem I ran into was the second integral was 1/2 instead of 1.
 
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  • #2
This is a univariate distribution. [itex]\Theta[/itex] is uniformly distributed in [itex][0,2\pi][/itex]; [itex]X = \cos \Theta[/itex] and [itex]Y = \sin\Theta[/itex] can then be determined from that.
[tex]\begin{align*}
P(X < x) &= \begin{cases}
0 & x < -1 \\
P(\arccos(x) < \Theta < 2\pi - \arccos(x)) & -1 \leq x \leq 1\\
1 & x > 1
\end{cases} \\
P(Y < y) &= \begin{cases}
0 & y < -1 \\
P(\pi + \arcsin(|y|) < \Theta < 2\pi - \arcsin(|y|)), & -1 \leq y < 0 \\
P(0 < \Theta < \arcsin(y)) + P(\pi - \arcsin(y) < \Theta < 2\pi), & 0 \leq y \leq 1 \\
1, & y > 1
\end{cases}
\end{align*}
[/tex]

[itex]X[/itex] and [itex]Y[/itex] are not independent, but satisfy [itex]X^2 + Y^2 = 1[/itex].
 
  • #3
I discovered the problem. ##\delta(\sqrt{x^2+y^2}-1)## is satisfied for two values of x, so when integrating to get a function of y, I had to double the single value I had obtained.
 
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1. What is the definition of polar coordinates?

Polar coordinates are a system of representing points in a plane using a distance (r) from the origin and an angle (θ) from a reference direction, usually the positive x-axis. This system is commonly used in mathematics and physics to describe the position of a point in two-dimensional space.

2. How do you convert from polar to cartesian coordinates?

To convert from polar to cartesian coordinates, you can use the following formulas:
x = r * cos(θ)
y = r * sin(θ)
where r is the distance from the origin and θ is the angle from the reference direction. These formulas can be derived from the Pythagorean theorem and trigonometric identities.

3. What are the advantages of using polar coordinates?

Polar coordinates have several advantages over cartesian coordinates. One advantage is that they can more easily represent points with circular or symmetric patterns, such as in polar graphs. They also make it easier to describe and understand certain physical phenomena, such as circular motion or electromagnetic fields.

4. Can you convert from cartesian to polar coordinates?

Yes, it is possible to convert from cartesian to polar coordinates using the following formulas:
r = √(x^2 + y^2)
θ = tan^-1(y/x)
These formulas can be derived from the inverse trigonometric functions and basic geometry.

5. Are polar coordinates used in any real-world applications?

Yes, polar coordinates are used in many real-world applications. They are commonly used in navigation systems, such as GPS, to determine the position of an object or location on Earth. They are also used in physics and engineering to describe the motion and forces of objects in circular or rotational motion.

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