Entering polar coordinates

Using relative polar coordinates makes drawing a square tilted at a 45-degree angle a simple task. Polar coordinates base the location of a point on a distance and angle from either the origin (absolute coordinate) or from the previous point (relative coordinate).

To specify polar coordinates, type a distance and an angle, separated by the open angle bracket (<). For example, to use relative polar coordinates to specify a point 1 unit away from the previous point and at an angle of 45 degrees, type @1<45.

To draw the square from the example in the previous section, "Entering relative Cartesian coordinates," this time tilted at a 45-degree angle, start the Line command, and then respond to the prompts as follows:

Start of line: 4,5

Angle ? Length ? <End point>: @8.5<45

Angle ? Length ? Follow ? Undo ? <End point>: @8.5<315

Angle ? Length ? Follow ? Close ? Undo ? <End point>: @8.5<225

Angle ? Length ? Follow ? Close ? Undo ? <End point>: C

 

 

Drawing a tilted square using the relative polar coordinates method; enter C to close.


NOTE This example, like all examples in this guide, assumes the program's default settings: Angles increase counterclockwise and decrease clockwise. Thus, an angle of 315 degrees is the same as -45 degrees.


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Entering absolute Cartesian coordinates

Entering relative Cartesian coordinates