That is the origin O, from which all angles and distances to the point are measured, instead of measuring distance from the axes. In bipolar coordinates, there are two poles, from which angles are both measured to determine the distance.
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The point whose Cartesian coordinates are (-3, -3) has the polar coordinates R = 3 sqrt(2), Θ = -0.75pi.
the radius vector; and the vectorial angle the radius vector; and the vectorial angle
The equivalent of the x-axis
Polar Co-ordinates are non-Cartesian co-ordinates. Since most of the Graphics Package do not support non-Cartesian co-ordinates,Polar co-ordinates should be converted to Cartesian form.
r=sqrt(x2+y2) and θ=arctan(y/x) are useful formulae here. if x=5 and y=-12, r=13 and θ=arctan(-12/5)=-1.18 rectangular: (5,-12) ; polar: (13,-1.18)