Plane coordinates can be represented in two ways...as rectangular coordinates, or as polar coordinates.

The polar coordinates are deived from a clockwise angle rotation from the X axis in the direction of the Y axis. This clockwise angle rotation is known as a plane bearing.

The two systems

Examine the animation in the main window. You can see there is a basic relationship between the two systems. If you have x,y for P you can calculate q ,L for P. The relationship can be written as:

• P _x,y = coordinate expressed as rectilinear
  • _{x = north dimension}
  • _{y = east dimension}
• P_{q ,L} = coordinate expressed as vector
• _q = bearing (clockwise from north)
• _L = distance