Polar coordinates

Using polar coordinates, we can also represent points in a two-dimensional space. In this case, one polar distance and an angle with respect to the X axis are required instead of the X and Y coordinate values. To understand this clearly, have a look at the following graph:

In this case, the B point is represented by (8<30), where 8 is the distance between the A and B points. Here, A is the origin and 30 is the angle between line AB and the positive X axis in an anticlockwise direction.

This type of coordinate representation, where a point in space is represented by an angle with respect to the positive X axis and the distance from the origin, is known as a polar coordinate system.

Throughout this book, we will use both methods of coordinates to make our drawing. Drawings in AutoCAD are not essentially made only with coordinate values. For most of the cases, we use a general approach of direct distance entry and we use coordinates only in specific situations.

In the next section, we will start making our first drawing with the Line command using direct distance entry as well as different coordinate values.