Polar distance (geometry)

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In geometry a polar distance, typically denoted r is a coordinate in polar coordinate systems (r, θ) and (r, θ, h).

The distance d between two points P1 and P2 with their polar coordinates (r1, θ1) and (r2, θ2) in two dimensional circular polar coordinate system is given by the polar distance formula:

d = \sqrt{r_{1}^{2} + r_{2}^{2} - 2 r_{1} r_{2} \cos (\theta_{1} - \theta_{2})}.